334 HUNTING PRELIMINARIES. 



coops, and a cord on it with a few small bells, which will 

 sound when there is a breeze, will generally keep the foxes off 

 the young birds at night. All wild animals dread a metallic 

 sound ; hence a deer stalker never has a ferrule on his stick. 

 Supposing that foxes like the new covert, or that the covert is 

 one to which they have been accustomed, the proprietor will 

 probably have a litter of cubs bred in it. He can help the 

 vixen and prevent her from marauding about the neighbouring 

 poultry yards, by shooting for her now and then two or three 

 rabbits, which he may find during his afternoon walk round 

 the covert or coverts. The bunnies should be allowed to 

 remain where they fall and should not be touched, because 

 foxes suspect danger if their food is handled. Before repeating 

 the performance after the first occasion, the place should be left 

 quiet until the dead rabbits are taken away. In a short time, 

 Mrs. Vicky will regard the report of the gun as the sound of 

 her dinner bell, and an observant third person might see her 

 following the gunner at a respectful distance. When the cubs 

 become big, they ought to catch their own prey, or they will 

 be no good for hunting. If it be desired to feed foxes in the 

 season, the best things to give them are dead rats, which can 

 be easily procured, when a neighbouring farmer takes in a 

 stack of grain. Foxes are very fond of them ; in fact, Tom 

 Firr thinks that these rodents are their favourite food. It 

 is advisable at first to pour water over the dead rats, as is 

 done with the bait of a trap ; but when the foxes begin to 

 take them with confidence, this precaution against putting 

 them off their meal will not be needed. The coverts can be 

 shot a week or two after hounds have drawn them. The 

 shooting will not cause the foxes much alarm ; because the 

 vixen will probably be underground, and the dog somewhere 

 out of the way, unless the hounds have caught him. In the 

 summer and autumn, foxes kill many hedgerow-abiding rats, 

 which destroy young game and eggs, and seldom get in the 



