made in consequence of their having frequented the orchards in some parts of Dorsetshire, where they have appeared in numbers, and are called "ditchowls."

In the four last editions, I observed, that there remained much to be done for the effectual preservation of game, to which the legislature would no doubt attend, when matters of more serious consideration were happily adjusted; and the game laws would, in all probability, undergo the improvement, for which there was ample scope.

Since our earlier editions, we have the NEW GAME ACT, which I have the best authority for believing will, sooner or later, undergo further and necessary improvements. I shall therefore, in this edition, again reserve it as the last article, in order that it may remain open for future alterations.

HUTCH-TRAP FOR VERMIN.

I here present my readers with a trap that has been used by our old vermin-killer, for these thirty years, and with which he has caught more weasels, stoats, wild cats, rats, and polecats, than any man in the county: and, as he is not quite so active as when drawn on the donkey, among the mounted markers (having now seen the 1st of September eighty-one times), he gives me, as a legacy for all his brothersportsmen, what he "counts to be the best thing as is for tackling all them there plaguy warmunts." This trap, I am aware, is nothing new; and yet it is but little known. It has the advantage of taking every thing

alive and uninjured; so that, if your game get into it, no harm is done; and it may therefore be set in the middle of a path; whereas, with all kinds of gins, you must either set them at the side of the path (with a bait suspended to a stick, to windward, for the vermin to smell, and jump at), or be liable to destroy your hares, pheasants, and other game, by putting what would mutilate them directly in their track. But, in order not to dwell on so stupid a theme as a weasel-trap, let me hasten to conclude with the necessary directions.

Length, 3 feet 6 inches; height, inside, 9 inches; breadth, ditto, 9 inches. A A show how far within the box the two baits are to be laid. B shows the stud at the end of the plate, which, when the vermin tread on that plate (in passing from the bait they have seized to the other bait that remains,) becomes disengaged from the button (C and E), and the trap is instantly closed, at both ends, by the shutting down of DD, which should be made of either strong wire or thin sheet-iron with holes, in order to show some light, to which the vermin are attracted: otherwise they would gnaw a hole through the box and make their escape. Fig. 2. Gives a separate view of the plate, or

"trencher."

This trap should be set in any track, or beaten path. The vermin are conducted to it by means of sticking up a little avenue of boughs, so as to become more and more contracted as it approaches the trap; and thus to lead the vermin up to it, in the same manner that wildfowl are conducted into the pipes of a decoy. There should be an avenue at each end, in order that the unsuspecting animals may see an easy thoroughfare, where, after having seized one bait, they are sure to pass on for the other, and thus tread on the fatal plate, which, by the way, should be full the width of the box, lest they might otherwise pass on one side of it. Any kind of bird, flesh, or entrails

does for a bait. It should be cut up so as to have a good scent, and then be dragged along the ground as a trail, from the burrow, or haunt, of the vermin to the spot where you find it most convenient to place the trap, and up to which they will follow the scent till they find and seize the bait.-So much for the vermin-trap, for the masterly execution on which old Siney is the artist: I am only the inspector, reporter, and principal witness as to its efficacy.

DUCK GUNS.

[GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR.]

As we have now lost poor Joe Manton and Fullerd, I am rather puzzled to give advice about a duck gun, as it is an article scarcely understood by the London makers; and, when they get an order for one, they are obliged to charge an exorbitant price, because their journeymen require extra payment for all jobs out of the common line. As a specimen of this-I need only observe that, for a stock and furniture to a duck gun that I had renovated, about the year 1826, the journeymen's bills to the master (Lancaster) amounted to 8l. 58. 8d.! and after all, I had to send the stock to Burnett, of Southampton, to alter it, before I could shoot with it!So much for duck guns from London. I allude to a gun of about 16lb. or 18b. weight. But as to a heavy single gun-(say under 14b.) the London makers can serve you extremely well; as this just comes within the comprehension of themselves and their men. There is no question that (except the flint) the copper SIDE-primer is the ONLY ignition for duck guns; and it matters not whether you have Lancaster's or Long's new one, or the original one of Joe Manton; because you seldom fire a gun of this kind so often as to be annoyed by having frequently to push in the primers.

As we must now go to Birmingham for barrels, I should be inclined to hand over all the heavy duck

gun-work to either Westley Richards, or Burnett *, of Southampton; and I am sure the London artists will thank me for the recommendation; as I know that they scarcely get a fair living profit by sending out London-finished guns beyond a certain size; and after all their turn-out proves, nine times in ten, more an ornamental than an useful concern. A duck gun should have a substantial stock-such as a fancyworkman would be ashamed of-it should be made so large at the breech that neat gun-makers would laugh at it the stock should rise well up to the eye; because you have not the power to lower your head when holding out a heavy weight—and, above all, the barrel should lay level and well up to the eye, instead of being let down into the stock so as to pitch under the mark in quick firing. Many of the "roughstockers" in town can do this job well; but, when it comes to the "screwers-together" and finishers, it often becomes so changed as to be more injured than improved. A duck gun should have either no heelplate at all, or one of a metal that will not rust from loading in a wet place; and therefore it is folly to

* The only man I know capable of fitting up a very large duck gun without specific directions from the shooter. - Mr. Burnett, has, for these last ten years, been working for gentlemen-gunners under the directions of Buckle, Singer, and other professors of those secrets afloat, which it would take a dandy-gunmaker more time than he can spare to learn. Mr. Burnett is not only a clear-headed ingenious workman, and reasonable in his charges, but also a good practical shot. [Since the last edition, Mr. Purdey has had inflicted on him some orders for stanchion guns, and he is positively the only London man who has been shown how to make a proper But, as he told me himself, he executed such orders only to oblige his customers.]

one.