The Fox 



may come in their way, or pick up a stray morsel in 

 the shape of a flitting insect. Later in life the Fox- 

 cub becomes a terror to the game-preserver, as then 

 the coverts must give up a pheasant now and again to 

 satisfy its appetite. Where no hunt is established 

 Foxes are shown no quarter. Traps, guns, and poison 

 are all employed to stay its depredations, if not actually 

 to extirpate the animal from such localities. Yet all 

 the ingenuity employed seems to have little effect upon 

 the numbers inhabiting certain quarters. As the female 

 Fox (or vixen, as it is termed) only produces one litter 

 annually, it cannot be said that the presence of Foxes 

 in such districts is due to any inordinate fecundity. 

 More than likely the artfulness and cunning of the 

 animal keeps it in its place. 



A Fox does not plunder at home. It goes out into 

 the wilds, far from its threshold, and carries its victim 

 to its den, often piece by piece. If it kills a newly 

 born lamb it will carry a portion to its cubs and return 

 the following night for another titbit. This is the 

 flock-master's opportunity. The vixen hunts as well 

 as the dog-fox, only the latter kills much more than 

 he eats or carries home. On the other hand, the 

 vixen, once she has her teeth in the carcass lof her 

 victim, turns towards the burrow v/here her cubs lie 

 asleep. 



Before March winds blow the hill-slopes have their 

 crop of lambs, and shepherds must watch their flocks 

 by night when Reynard roams. From the fireside the 



21 



