the first place the surface soil from the holes just dug, and atop of
that some unbroken solid earth from a distance, so that the lie of the
trap may be as much as possible unnoticed by the deer. Any earth left
over should be carried to a distance from the gin. The mere smell of
the newly-turned-up soil will suffice to make the animal
suspicious;[30] and smell it readily she will.

[27] Or, "remove a mass of soil to the depth of five palms so as to
form a circular hole corresponding in size with the rim above-
named."

[28] Or, "like a door over the cavity, somewhat below the surface,
flatwise"; i.e. "in a horizontal position."

[29] So literally, but really Carthamus creticus, a thistle-like plant
used for making spindles (Sprengel ap. L. & S.), the Euonymous
europaeus being our spindle-tree. Aristot. "H. A." ix. 40, 49;
Theocr. iv. 52.

[30] Lit. "if she once sniffs the new-turned soil the deer grows shy,
and that she will quickly do." See Plat. "Laws," 933 A; "Phaedr."
242 C; "Mem." II. i. 4.

The hunter should take his hounds and inspect the traps upon the
mountains, early in the morning if possible, though he should do so
also during the day at other times. Those set on cultivated land must
always be inspected early, before the sun is up in fact,[31] and for
this reason: on the hills, so desert is the region,[32] the creatures
may be caught not only at night but at any time of day; while, on the
cultivated lands, owing to their chronic apprehension of mankind in