20 THE FOX 



or five, and that the fox can only carry one at a time, 

 the courage and endurance displayed are very great, 

 and a comparatively short distance between the new 

 refuge and the original earth would add up into a 

 considerable journey. But the vixen is a most courage- 

 ous and devoted mother, and instances are not at 

 all uncommon of one having been seen in front of 

 hounds carrying a cub in her mouth. There is an 

 objection to stub-bred foxes and to the plan so often 

 advocated of closing all earths permanently, since 

 litters laid up above ground must be in considerable 

 danger of being snapped up as unconsidered trifles 

 by the hounds during the latter weeks of hunting. 



A varied diet is necessary to the fox's health, and 

 I have no doubt that when foxes are fed artificially, 

 the want of insect food, and perhaps of the fruits 

 and berries with which they vary their diet, is inju- 

 rious to their health and is another contributory 

 cause of mange. I am of opinion, judging by the 

 quantity of beetle-cases and other similar remains 

 which may be discovered in or about a fox's earth, 

 that insect food plays a very considerable part in the 

 economy of the fox family and has much to do with 

 the rearing of healthy cubs. 



Miss Serrell has told me the following anec- 

 dote : ' For several years in succession a vixen 



