22 FOX-HUNTING IN NEW ENGLAND 



and may sometimes be seen on her homeward way 

 with a fringe of field mice hanging from her mouth. 

 About the entrance to the den may be seen the 

 wings of domestic poultry, wild ducks and grouse, 

 and the legs of lambs — the fragments of many 

 a vulpine feast. 



It is a curious fact, and one I have never seen 

 mentioned in print, that while the cubs are de- 

 pendent on the mother, a hound will only follow 

 her for a few minutes. Of the existence of this pro- 

 vision for the safety of the young foxes I have had 

 ocular proof, confirmed by the statements of per- 

 sons whom I believe. In June, 1868, an old vixen 

 was making sad havoc with one of my neighbors' 

 lambs, and an old fox-hunter was requested to 

 take the field in their defense. He proceeded with 

 his hounds (tolerably good ones) to the woods 

 where her burrow was known to be, and put the 

 dogs out. They soon started her and ran her out 

 of the woods, but greatly to the surprise of the 

 hunter they returned in a few moments, looking 

 as shamefaced as whipped curs, with the old fox 

 following them. Disgusted with the behavior of 

 his own dogs, he sought the assistance of an 

 old hound of celebrated qualities, belonging to a 

 neighbor. She was put out with the other dogs, 

 with just the same result. The vixen was, at last, 

 shot while she was chasing the hounds, who then 

 turned upon her, biting and shaking her as is 



