THE FOX 89 



known there is no hunting ; but there are many 

 parts of Scotland where it would be impossible to 

 hunt, and the keepers kill every fox they can. 

 It will sometimes happen that cubs are brought 

 or sent to you only a week or two old, and in 

 that case they should be kept in a stable until 

 they are three months, before being turned into 

 the earth. The stable should be littered with 

 peat-moss at least a foot deep, and there should 

 be drain-pipes for them to hide under, as it is 

 important they should acquire the habit of going 

 to ground before being put in an artificial earth, 

 and no attempt should be made to tame them. 

 Until they are turned out, they should be caught 

 occasionally, and their coats well dusted with dry 

 sulphur, which will keep them free of insects, a 

 frequent cause of mange. 



The fox has many enemies besides those that 

 may be called legitimate, and the sheep-dog is 

 the one that gives him most trouble. Fortunately 

 the sheep-dog, in most instances, is too much of 

 a cur to tackle a fox ; but occasionally they have 

 a dash of some other blood that gives them spirit, 

 and then, if they have a turn of speed, the foxes 

 in the neighbourhood will suffer. Many tired 



