28 FOXHUNTING ON LAKELAND FELLS 



As a rule the vixen lays down her cubs in some 

 small and comparatively simple earth, often within 

 reach of other and more extensive rocky retreats. 

 The latter are used when the cubs are nearly fall- 

 grown. On the fells, a fox can get to ground 

 almost anywhere amongst the rocks, but there are 

 in every district weU-known earths or, in local 

 parlance, " Borrans," which have been regularly 

 used by generations of foxes. Some of these earths 

 go a long way underground, and are composed of 

 masses of rock and huge boulders, amongst which 

 it is always difficult, and often dangerous, to work, 

 in an attempt to unearth a fox which has gone to 

 ground. Where a fox can go a small terrier can 

 generally follow, but at times the dog is unable to 

 return, and many a good terrier has lost his life 

 in some underground retreat from which it was 

 impossible to extricate him. 



The fell fox loves rough ground, and uphill 

 amongst the rocks he is a match for the swiftest 

 hound. He can chmb hke a cat, and can squeeze 

 his lean body through a very small opening. When 

 hard pressed by hounds, instead of going to ground, 

 he will sometimes attempt to evade them by taking 

 refuge on some narrow ledge or " benk " on the 

 crags. When this happens there is always the 

 danger that hounds in the excitement of fresh- 

 finding their fox may fall from the ledges on to the 

 jagged rocks far below. Although Reynard is 



