The Fox IOI 
served, the majority of foxes seemed to realize their 
great disadvantage, usually keeping so near to their 
burrows that, when hard pressed by the hounds, they 
could ‘‘hole up” as a last resort. 
Let us look at some of the common methods em- 
ployed by hunters in securing foxes that “hole up.” 
The fox may be “‘dug out.” This is serious business 
for a hunter when the ground is frozen to the depth 
of two feet or more, but if he decides that this is the 
thing to be done, he borrows a pick and shovel from 
some near by farmhouse. _ If the ‘‘boys” are at home, 
the wise old hunter incidentally mentions that he has 
“holed”? a fox, and at once he has assistants at his 
command. Before the digging begins a slender green 
stick is cut, with which the direction of the burrow 
is determined, and a pit is sunk some four or five 
feet from the entrance. Then another bearing is 
taken and a second pit is sunk, and by this means 
much labor is saved. Sometimes a divide in the bur- 
row is discovered, but the dog usually determines in 
which one the fox is hiding; at other times the fox 
may be heard digging, and his whereabouts is thus 
disclosed. The scene now becomes one of great 
excitement for the boys and dogs, each getting in 
the way of the other, and delaying the capture. If 
no large stone or root interferes, the fox is soon ex- 
