ii6 SOLDIER AND SPORTSMAN 



the vixens quarrelled, but neither would shift her 

 cubs. When the cubs were able to play and run 

 about, one was found dead. Later on another was 

 found in the same condition, and this went on until 

 the fourth and last cub of the litter was destroyed. 

 The other vixen was then left in sole possession of 

 the cover. The following year, early in February, 

 the keeper when going his rounds one night heard 

 a tremendous scuffle in the small cover. On visit- 

 ing the place next morning he found a vixen lying 

 dead, doubtless killed in a fight, and a good fight 

 it must have been from the punishment the body 

 showed. A post-mortem showed that the dead 

 vixen would have shortly laid up to cub. 



Foxes are said to be inordinately fond of fruit, 

 their favourite being the blackberry. Although 

 varieties of the fox are found in almost every part 

 of the world, he must surely be natural to a cold 

 region, otherwise why should Nature have provided 

 him with such an equipment against cold ? I do 

 not know if the brush is a necessity for perfect 

 health in a climate like that of Great Britain, but 

 I do know that stumped-tailed foxes are apt to 

 become subterranean dwellers, seldom found by 

 hounds, and, when on foot, very difficult to 

 catch. 



There are men of the poacher class who deal in 

 live foxes, and the most approved method of catch- 



