122 PHEASANTS 



that any dog or odd foxes may jump in to 

 join the single fox already confined 

 within. 



Many keepers manage to induce the 

 vixen to remove her litter to a site more 

 desirable from their point of view, by 

 making an attractive new earth and calling 

 her attention to it by judicious feeding. 

 It has been found possible to get the litter 

 moved as much as a mile away by good 

 management. 



The vixen's normal round is a wide one, 

 for she leaves in peace any rabbits or game 

 which live in the immediate vicinity of 

 the earth, possibly — as some think — to 

 keep a reputation for good behaviour with 

 her neighbours, but more probably to 

 ensure a ready supply of food for her cubs 

 against the day when they take to finding 

 themselves. 



Taking advantage of this natural desire 

 to wander far afield on her nightly 

 marauds, the clever keeper can keep her 

 time fully occupied in carrying food to 

 her cubs, which food is placed warm at 



