THE FOX. 105 



fox escaped. The vixen and all tlie cubs but 

 one were killed on this occasion, but this fox 

 succeeded in getting this one away and reared 

 it himself Both father and son, however, were 

 shot out of another cairn -h.Ye miles off, three 

 months later, and a No. 2 shot was sticking in 

 the leg of the old fox below the knee. He no 

 doubt received this wound when the dead lamb 

 saved his hfe. 



They are easily trapped before they are a 

 year old. We have known three caught in a 

 trap baited with the body of one of the same 

 litter ; but if a fox has once sprung a trap he 

 will not go near another. We got two good fox- 

 hounds from one of the established packs, and 

 tried to run them to ground, but had no success. 

 The country was so severe that they always 

 ran quite away from us, and were generally out 

 all night. 



In July 1871 our head keeper was out 

 with a terrier which bolted an old vixen and 

 followed her about half a mile, when she turned 



