PRESERVING FOXES. 355 



greater number, and of the large increase of railways and 

 spectators on foot, in carriages, motor cars and on bicycles. 

 Passing trains do not head foxes so much as plate-layers 

 and other workmen on the line. 



The late Captain King-King wrote me the following 

 notes on preserving foxes : " The ambition to preserve 

 foxes is a most laudable one in a resident of a hunting 

 country, and can as a rule be easily attained, if a suitable 

 covert is available. The chief conditions which are re- 

 quired in a covert for this purpose are that it should be 

 in a retired situation, and well away from roads and foot- 

 paths, and that it should contain rabbits. If the owner 

 succeeds a shooting man who was no friend to the chase, 

 one of the first things he should do is to get rid of 

 the keeper ; for it is as difficult to try to reform a vulpicide 

 keeper, as it is to reclaim a sheep-worrying dog. With a 

 new man he 'should begin as he means to go on. He can do 

 some shooting, and to give the keeper an interest in the work, 

 he may even rear a few pheasants, hatched under hens from 

 eggs taken from the wild nests. A tarred string round the 

 coops, and a cord on it with a few small bells, which will 

 sound when there is a breeze, will generally keep the foxes off 

 the young birds at night. All wild animals dread a metallic 

 sound ; hence a deer stalker never has a ferrule on his stick. 

 Supposing that foxes like the new covert, or that the covert is 

 one to which they have been accustomed, the proprietor will 

 probably have a litter of cubs bred in it. He can help the 

 vixen and prevent her from marauding about the neighbouring 

 poultry yards, by shooting for her now and then two or three 

 rabbits, which he may find during his afternoon walk round 

 the covert or coverts. The bunnies should be allowed to 

 remain where they fall and should not be touched, because 

 foxes suspect danger if their food is handled. Before repeating 

 the performance after the first occasion, the place should be left 



23* 



