26 THE FOX 



While watching cubs at play it is well to remember 

 that if a vixen suspects the presence of man she will 

 move her offspring. One of the earliest lessons the 

 cubs learn is to fly at the first thought of danger. They 

 learn this partly from their mother and partly because 

 it is one of their race experiences. If the cubs are ever 

 so eagerly engaged in play, when the vixen utters a 

 warning note they are gone. The idea that the earth 

 is a place of safety when danger threatens remains 

 with them, and although foxes spend most of their 

 active life above ground, yet the earth is always a 

 refuge to be sought in the moment of danger. I have 

 known a litter bred in a small spinny to return thither 

 when hard pressed from coverts many miles away. 



A litter of healthy young foxes scatters widely 

 over the country, and its members occupy suitable 

 quiet spots. I know a covert of no very great extent 

 which is kept quiet and where there are always foxes. 

 This covert has been drawn forty times in succession 

 and never once blank. There is no earth at all in it, 

 yet the supply of foxes never fails. 



As soon as the young ones can move about 

 they come to the mouth of the earth when all 

 is quiet. The first game is hide-and-seek, at which 

 cubs display great activity and cunning. In almost 

 every litter I have watched, there is one cub larger 



