HUNTING AND FISHING. 159 
against the wind. Wild animals, birds especially, possess so delicate a 
sense of hearing as to render it a difficult matter to come within shooting 
distance by going in the direction of the breeze. When the haunt of game 
has been discovered, the sportsman stations himself in the vicinity, and to 
the leeward, early in the morning or in the evening, and waits until the 
animal sought for appears. But if unsuccessful in this way, the ground 
must be explored to the leeward and search made. Wild boars are hunted 
with good boar-hounds also to the leeward, and when the animal appears, 
may either be shot in front of the dogs or killed with the hunting-knife, 
whilst the hounds hold it fast. oes are brought within shooting distance 
by imitating the cry of the doe to her young, by means of a leaf or a piece of 
birch bark. The roe soon approaches and is slain. 
2. Catrcuine THE Baperr. When the winter retreat of the badger, or 
the passage through which it goes in and out during the summer season, is 
discovered, a piece of heavy wood is placed before the entrance, and fixed 
in such a manner in connexion with another piece, that upon the animal’s 
entering or leaving it must necessarily fall down and crush the badger 
by its weight. Another mode of capturing the badger is by means 
of the hood, which is a network of packthread furnished with iron rings. 
The hunter, having placed the hood at the entrance of the retreat, 
watches until the badger leaves it, and after the animal has got his 
head into the apparatus, it is closed around his neck. When the hood has 
been placed in the proper position, it is necessary that the badger should 
be driven from his hole by dogs. The badger may also be taken by means 
of the iron apparatus exhibited at jig. 25. Plates of good iron are used, 
which are placed before the entrance of the retreat, and covered slightly 
with earth. The plate, however, should be rubbed with the acicular leaves 
of the fir tree, or foliage of the oak or beech, and even then the badger 
ventures to run over the plate only when all other passages are closed. The 
plate should he well fastened to the spot or the animal may take it with 
him into the hole, in which case it would become necessary to dig him out. 
Another implement is exhibited at jig. 24. In order to protect the hunter 
from the blows of the badger, the animal is seized by means of the nippers 
(sig. 38). | 
3. Taxine THE Fox. In the first place, foxes may be shot whilst running. 
They are also caught in holes dug for the purpose, or taken in their dens 
by means of badger dogs, and finally, may be driven into nets placed at 
the entrance of their retreats. The best mode of catching the fox is by 
iron traps (jigs. 22 and 23). Foxes may also be caught by means of the 
iron plate (fig. 25). A wooden trap (jig. 40) is used for the same purpose. 
Two pieces (a and @), each four feet in length, are placed on the ground, 
and at one thix@l that distance apart. Both are fixed firmly, and slightly 
covered with earth. An upper piece (c) is five feet and a half long, and 
sustained by small poles. A transverse rest (d) is placed near the summit 
of two solid supports, and each movable piece of the apparatus rests upon 
appropriate sticks. At the other end, the upper pole slopes in such a man- 
ner as to form a slightly-opened hinge, and is attached to a stretched string 
739 
