Destruction by Natural Enemies 23 



consists in following the trail of persons who 

 ramble in the woods and fields, apparently in the 

 hope that they will lead to something desirable. 

 Foxes are naturally curious, and have long been 

 known to follow people seemingly to satisfy 

 their curiosity. Now and then a fox comes upon 

 the track of someone who has been visiting a 

 bird's nest, and following it, finds that it leads 

 to a meal of eggs or nestlings. Ever afterwards 

 probably that fox will follow the trails of other 

 human beings who cross his path, in the hope 

 of similar pleasing results. So closely will foxes 

 follow up clews of this kind that in some parts of 

 the country to visit the nest of a ground-building 

 bird is said to doom it to destruction. Per- 

 sonally I try to avoid going close to such a nest 

 except when really necessary, for I greatly dis- 

 like to add to the many dangers which already 

 surround the little home. 



But foxes have many good points, which we 

 sometimes overlook when speaking of their evil 

 deeds. They eat great numbers of wild mice, 

 so destructive to the crops and young trees, and 

 possibly to birds as well. I have watched them 

 for hours when they did nothing but catch 

 grasshoppers, and it is well known that at certain 

 times and places the much-hated woodchuck 

 forms a considerable part of the fox's diet. Not 



