THE FOX IN SUMMER 141 



which I should mention had been sown with gorse 

 seed as an addition to the covert. Soon she would 

 put up a squatting rabbit, who darted for his life 

 towards the gorse with Mrs. Vixen in hot pursuit, 

 while the cubs did their best to cut off poor bunny's 

 retreat. I never witnessed a capture effected in this 

 manner, though I have no doubt the manoeuvre was 

 at times successful, for the " shaves " were often very- 

 close indeed. On one occasion a rabbit bolted the 

 other way, and faced for the open ; and never have 

 I seen any animal rival the incredible swiftness of 

 that vixen's rush. Ere twenty yards had been 

 covered she was upon him, and one loud squeak 

 told of the closing of long jaws on the loins of the 

 victim. 



Foxes prowl in company far more frequently than 

 is generally supposed, and hounds have, I fancy, a 

 brace in front of them much oftener than we who 

 ride to them at all suspect. Not once, but many 

 times have I seen three foxes issue from the neigh- 

 bouring covert " 'twixt the gloaming and the mirk " 

 of a summer's evening, and, like Indians on the 

 war-path, move stealthily in single file across the flat 

 fields towards the rough hillside ; often, on a dewy 

 morning in June, when riding a colt before the sun 

 had risen high, I have viewed a brace returning 

 together, and sometimes both were laden with the 

 spoils of foray. When the young corn is getting 

 high and the meadows ready for the mower, foxes 

 are rarely seen save by those whose pleasure or 

 duty it is to be abroad early when the mist still lies 

 on the lowlands and the dew is glittering on the 



