102 



sense of locality — only instinct — was very strong in 

 youth, but has faded considerably with the lapse of 

 years. 



I will admit instinct teaches the fox that the cry 

 of hounds is a danger signal, but it is reason which 

 tells the veteran there is hkely to be trouble for him 

 when the hoof beats of numerous horses are heard in 

 the distance. Unless there is a strong breeze blowing 

 and the hunt approach the covert up-wind, the foxes 

 therein are fully ahve to the advance of their enemies. 

 Foxes of experience that have often been hunted will 

 take the hint and clear o£f before the hunt arrives, and 

 unless a whip is sent on in advance, the covert will be 

 blank, with only slight evidence of a stale hne. 



The wild fox probably dishkes the human smell as 

 much or more than he does that of the hound, but 

 with his keener sense of smell than ours he is able to 

 distinguish the various scents of different individuals. 

 He recognizes the smell of the man who looks after the 

 covert and suffers that individual's presence near his 

 kennel, whereas a stranger would scare him av/ay at 

 once. I will not say that a fox regularly inhabiting a 

 certain covert considers the covert keeper a friend, but 

 he knows he is not an avowed enemy, though it is 

 possible he thinks it was an unfriendly act to stop the 

 earth on a hunting morning when recognizing the 

 familiar smell clinging to the faggots. 



The usual time for cubs to be born is about the third 

 week in March, but some arrive much earlier and a few 

 later. Much depends on the v/eather before Christmas 

 and in January. When it has been exceptionally 

 mild the vixens come in use rather sooner. Nature 

 has allotted the early spring as the best period for the 

 cubs to come into the world, as by the time they are 



