54 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



here, and so dear are these stories to the heart of the 

 Fox-hunter that he would be a bold man who would 

 venture to throw discredit upon them. It may be well, 

 however, to point out that the existence of the Fox in 

 England is very artificial, and there is little doubt that, 

 but for the protection afforded by the unwritten law 

 which makes it a crime to shoot a Fox, the animal would 

 be nearly or quite as rare as the Wild Cat. So much 

 is this the case that it has influenced the whole nature 

 of the beast, and his general behaviour is quite different 

 here to what it is in other countries, such as Scotland, 

 where he is shot without mercy. In Shropshire the Fox 

 is fairly plentiful wherever there is suitable cover, and 

 most landowners preserve it carefully. Its food consists 

 principally of rabbits, hares, and ground birds, but it is 

 not at all particular, and if it cannot get these, will 

 visit the hen-roost, or eat Hedgehogs, Rats, Mice, and 

 even Beetles. A visit to the hen-roost is disastrous, for, 

 not content with taking one to eat, it will kill a number, 

 and, if undisturbed, take them away and bury them for 

 future use. The home of the Fox is known as its 

 " earth," and is usually situated in a wood. It either 

 excavates this itself, or takes possession of one belonging 

 to a Badger, or enlarges an old Rabbit burrow. There 

 is a difference of opinion as to whether the Fox and 

 Badger will associate. Some say that where Foxes 

 become numerous, Badgers will quit in disgust, and 

 vice- versa. An intelligent and reliable keeper informed 

 the writer, however, that he had several times found 

 Foxes and Badgers inhabiting the same earth, and 

 once found a Vixen with cubs in the same earth as a 

 Badger, and, apparently, all on good terms with one 





