TRAPPING OP RATS. 
249 
best you can ; then see that the slide is down, for many a 
rat has carried away the bait through this piece of careless- 
ness. When thus far complete, place it where you like, but 
not close to the hole, and lay it down as if by accident ; for 
all kind of formality excites their suspicion. A corner is a 
good place, as they always scent round the walls first, and 
by having a little trouble to scent out the bait, they run 
more greedily at it. JSTow leave it j and ten to one but you 
have a rat before morning, should one pass that way. Still, 
if unsuccessful, do not disturb the trap, but leave it where 
it is ; that will lull suspicion ; for some old rats are very 
crafty and cautious animals, while the younger are less sus- 
picious, and more easily trapped. But after every rat caught, 
cleanse the trap as before ; or all is to no purpose. 
Should you be troubled with a grizzly old fellow, that 
carefully avoids all your allurements, adopt the following 
plan. Send to the butcher for a bullock's thumb. He will 
understand what you mean ; it is a particular part of the 
liver. That done, you may either fry it or broil it, just as 
your fancy leads you ; but in either case let it be nicely 
cooked. When ready, fork it on to a clean plate, and after 
cutting off sufficient, scent it as I have already described, 
and bait with the same care. After that, set an old chair 
or stool against the wall, or in the corner ; and after placing 
the trap under it, so as to allow sufficient room for it to 
work easy, cover the seat of the chair or stool loosely over 
with long straw, so as to reach the ground on every side ; 
but mind there is not too much straw, and that it is quite 
clear of the trap. Then it is a thousand to one but you 
have him. This method of hiding the trap I have found 
most effectual, as the darkness and secrecy of the place takes 
him off his guard. 
Here I have given you the grand secret of the profession ; 
and to any one troubled with rats, it is worth ten times the 
price given for this book. 
I will now give you the real artistic method of disguising 
the natural odour of the hands ; and this does away with 
the necessity for gloves. It is done by getting a handful of 
oatmeal, and dropping into it three or four drops of the oil 
of anise seed, or caraway ; then mix them well together by 
rubbing them through your hands. This do continually, tili 
