through all his runs. He soon forces him out, and kills him in the centre of the farm-yard. A colony of rats will often change their quarters, especially previous to harvest, when they leave their abodes and resort to the corn-fields; but they invariably return when the ground is cleared. It is then that exertions should be used to effect, if possible, their destruction, particularly if they have taken up their abode in the new-made corn-stacks. It is then, too, that the rat-catcher uses his ferrets with the greatest success. He puts them in the runs on one side of the stack, whilst his dogs wait the result on the other. There they stand, at the mouths of the entrances, with ears and sterns erect, and one fore-foot elevated, anticipating the exertions of the ferret, that forces out the rats in their very teeth; they generally make very short work of it, although they are often very severely bitten. On other occasions, where the ferret cannot be employed,-in old, decayed buildings, for instance,—the rat-catcher uses poison in and then the rats, after

a very dexterous manner; having partaken of the bait, like a drunkard, drink themselves to death. In other instances, traps are used; but they require to be set with extreme caution in the runs; for, in many instances, such is the nose of the rat, he will leap over them, and render the labour

of the rat-catcher of no avail. The gun is also used for their destruction; for so great is the damage caused by these animals in completing their runs, that they have been known to endanger the safety of a building. It is a remarkable circumstance, that the rat is never mentioned in scripture, and it appears to have been nearly unknown to the ancients.

A good specimen of the rat-catcher was seen in the person and the habits of Dan Hallowell, whose domicile was placed in the outskirts of the good town of Doncaster. Dan was an eccentric character in his way. He stood about five feet eleven. His frame was cast in a gigantic mould. His gait was unseemly, and as lumbering as a wagon-horse. His countenance was far from prepossessing; but any deficiency in that respect was made up, he thought, by the possession of other qualities, among the rest, a voracious appetite. He has been known to eat nine pounds of beef, with its accompaniments, at one sitting. Yet many days he never tasted food. He was strictly honest, and a great rat-catcher, for he would rather be engaged in catching rats than in any laborious employment; but in this respect he was only following his vocation. Prodigal when he had plenty, he was often doomed to know the want of a meal. Still, when he had not bread, the

tear of pity has fallen over his hollow cheek, when witnessing the distress of others. He was a conspicuous personage at all public rejoicings and feastings, and deemed it a merit to possess an enormous appetite. At elections, too, he was a leading character; and never deserted the colour of his belt. Notoriety may be obtained in a thousand ways. Dan obtained it by his peculiarities, and his name will be long remembered. His career, however, was short. He died, aged thirtyone, on the fifth of November, 1835, after a few days' illness, brought on by want of nourishment,-in short, he was starved to death. And, now, many to whom he was known,-many who had done good service to the rat-catcher, invariably close their remembrance of him with the expression-" Poor Dan!"

T is said that there are tricks in every trade, and, assuredly, the keeper and the poacher, in pursuing each his respective

calling, are not free from this imputa

tion. There are, no doubt, many honest keepers, but it must be apparent, that the occupation of a keeper affords him innumerable opportunities for the commission of dishonest actions. He has the whole range of the estate; and, if he be mercenary, and has opened communications with the conveyancers, which he can do with perfect safety, particularly if the spot on which he resides be adjoining a turnpike road, he can carry

on

a secret trade in game to an almost unlimited extent. From his connexion with these soi-disant legal functionaries, the gamekeeper becomes somewhat learned in the law, and understands all its technicalities. He knows particularly what a fence is; nor is his capacity circumscribed; for he has such an acquaintance with horticulture, that he knows what a peach is. But, if you believe him, in all his proceedings he is perfectly disinterested.

The practice of allowing the gamekeeper to carry a gun, is one of the means which he can most readily turn to his own advantage. It has, no doubt, a very plausible appearance: for, are there not vermin on the estate to be destroyed?-and must not his master's table be supplied with game? But, alas! it too often happens, that the gamekeeper's eyes, from some cause or other, become confused to such a degree, that he is apt to mistake a hare for a weasel, and a pheasant for a hawk. In consequence of the prevalence of this unfortunate failing, many gentlemen will not allow their keepers to carry a gun; but still, if they are so disposed, there are a thousand other means at their command for killing an unlimited quantity of game, by nets, traps, and snares. But it is not only by the unlawful use of his gun, that the gamekeeper seeks

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