THE FOX 91 



that affects the blood must, I think, originate in 

 the animal itself, and not be the result of contact 

 with others. Does this disease arise from the 

 want of some particular food, or is it inherent 

 in the fox's constitution ? I remember my terrier 

 running a fox down in the open, which had not lost 

 a hair from either back or breast, but on examina- 

 tion I found the body was one mass of pustules. 

 This disease was undoubtedly that of the blood. 

 As I have already said, I am not properly qualified 

 to discuss this question, and if it were otherwise, 

 this would not be the place for such discussion. 

 All we have to consider is how we can best avoid 

 the disease, and how to stamp it out when it 

 appears. The most important thing is not to 

 have your foxes too thick on the ground, and 

 never to turn any out if it can be avoided. Foul 

 earths breed insects and parasites, which in their 

 turn are causes of mange. Every animal has, 

 I believe, its own particular flea, and whether 

 they are there for the good of their host or not 

 is a question I cannot decide to my own satis- 

 faction. When, however, the insect becomes too 

 numerous, then the animal suffers ; but is the 

 animal's weakness the cause or the result of the 



