128 THE COMMON FOX. 



When the Fox finds himself much pressed by the 

 Hounds, he generally makes towards his den. A 

 Terrier is, in this case, always put in to him, not to 

 seize and bring him out, for that would be im- 

 possible against so strong an animal, but merely 

 to keep him at bay, that he may be prevented from 

 burrowing deeper into the ground, till some of the 

 persons present dig him out. If the den happen 

 to be amongst rocks, or under the roots of trees, 

 the animal is perfectly safe, and there are no means 

 of driving him thence. When the retreat to his 

 habitation is cut off, his stratagems to escape from 

 his pursuers are various and surprising. He always 

 takes to the woody parts of the country, and pre- 

 fers paths that are most embarrassed with thorns 

 and briars. He runs in a direct line before the 

 Hounds, and at no great distance from them ; and, 

 if hard pushed, seeks low and wet grounds, as 

 though he were conscious that the scent did not 

 lie so well there as in other places. When over- 

 taken, he becomes desperate, and bravely defends 

 himself against the teeth of his assailants, even to 

 the last gasp. 



The following is a singular instance of sagacity 

 in one of these animals escaping from the Hounds, 

 and returning to his cover, though conveyed in a 

 cart to a very considerable distance from it. 



A Fox was taken in Whittlebury Forest, and 

 sent, by the Duke of Grafton, in a venison cart, 

 to London, that it might be hunted by his grace's 



Hounds, 



