DEC. FOXES AND RABBITS. 71 



of a very great age, and of from eight to ten inches 

 in diameter. Oaks also, of twenty years' growth, 

 are frequently destroyed by these animals. In fact, 

 wherever they once establish themselves they over- 

 run the country and become a nuisance. In the 

 sandhills of Culbin I admit that they can do but 

 small mischief, there being in that region little else 

 but bent, sea- weed, and furze-bushes. They thrive, 

 however, on this food, and in spite of foxes and 

 guns keep up their numbers sufficiently to afford 

 plenty of sport. The foxes are numerous in the 

 rough wild district which lies to the west of the 

 sandhills, and hunt regularly for rabbits wherever 

 they abound. From their tracks it is evident that 

 two foxes constantly hunt together ; and they take 

 different sides of every hillock. 



If a fox finds a rabbit at a sufficient distance 

 from the cover, he catches it by fair running ; but 

 most of his prey he obtains by dint of the number- 

 less stratagems which have earned for him a famous, 

 or rather an infamous, reputation from time imme- 

 morial. From what I have myself seen of the cun- 

 ning of the fox, I can believe almost any story of 

 his power of deceiving and inveigling animals into 

 his clutches. Nor does his countenance belie him ; 

 for handsome animal as he certainly is, his face is 

 the very type and personification of cunning. 



