10 



ON DESTROYING VERMIN 



would go a sweethearting, and would not 

 return. 



You remark that your " hedgehogs soon 

 disappeared." No doubt : unless confined by 

 a wall, they would wander far away, and try to 

 get back to their old haunts. You request me 

 " to suggest some place of shelter for them, 

 to which they might have recourse when at- 

 tacked by the cats?" I cannot believe that 

 hedgehogs are ever attacked by cats. A garden, 

 well fenced by a wall high enough to keep 

 dogs out, is a capital place for hedgehogs. 

 But there ought always to be two, man and 

 wife. 



Your " frogs and toads disappeared in a 

 very short time, notwithstanding a small cistern 

 of water which was open to them." They 

 would have preferred a pond or ditch. No 

 doubt they left you in search of more agreeable 

 situations. 



" Were it not for the cats we should have 

 plenty of birds." Granted. Cats amongst 

 birds are like the devil amongst us ; they 

 go up arid down seeking whom they may 

 devour. You must absolutely chase them 

 away for good and all, otherwise there will be 



