HOME AND HAUNTS OF THE FOX 95 



Yet there are countries which could not exist with- 

 out a supply of foxes from the outside, and artificial 

 earths. The truth is probably this, that so far as we 

 can avoid everything artificial with regard to foxes 

 and hunting, we shall have on the whole healthier, 

 stouter foxes, and better sport ; but that if we must 

 turn down foxes, by far the best plan is to make an 

 artificial earth, to obtain a vixen or a healthy litter, 

 to confine them just so long as is necessary, and then 

 leave them to themselves. As time goes on and our 

 artificial earth becomes overgrown and wild it will 

 differ hardly at all in the estimation of the foxes from 

 the natural earths. If a vixen be put down, it is wise 

 to remember that she is very jealous of any taint 

 of humanity when she is about to lay up her cubs. 

 She is quite capable of destroying the whole litter if 

 she is not treated very carefully. The less she sees 

 or smells of man the better. 



There have been various forms of artificial earth, 

 and I give them here so that readers may see for 

 themselves, and choose, if they must make an earth, 

 that form which is best suited to their own locality 

 and the situation of their coverts. 



But at this point the question arises, ' If I make 

 an artificial covert, should I put an artificial earth 

 into it ? ' It is not necessary to do so, and if we plant 



