HUNTING 117 



ing them is by inccins of dogs, or nithcr a single 

 dog. The best cross is that between a greyhound 

 and a coIHe, and he is all the better for a dash of 

 bull-terrier blood in him. When a fox finds 

 himself absolutely outmatched for speed he will lie 

 down and make the best of the situation. These 

 dogs are trained to race up to a fox and make him 

 surrender without fighting ; they stand guard till 

 their masters come, when the quarry is quickly 

 popped into a bag. 



In the way of food very little comes amiss to 

 foxes, if short of it he will feed on the carcass 

 of a long-dead sheep. They are not provident, 

 but will kill for the sake of killing ; not so vixens, 

 however, who are lying up with cubs. It is said 

 with regard to the latter that they prefer to go 

 far afield for their prey, rather than in their im- 

 mediate neighbourhood. A vixen may catch and 

 kill three or four rabbits and collect them in one 

 place ; before she proceeds to carry them off, she 

 seizes them by the neck and throws them across 

 her shoulders. 



It is interesting to note that almost all wild 

 animals have pricked or stand-up ears. It is 

 obvious that this formation increases the sense 

 of hearing, as they must be always on the alert, 

 on the look-out either for enemies or food. The 

 life of the wild is one of constant vigilance. 



