140 THE FOX 



openly or secretly hostile to foxes, and such are nearly 

 always known in their own neighbourhood, there 

 mange will be prevalent and destructive. 



Two other causes of mange have been put 

 forward : overcrowding i.e. foxes too thick on the 

 ground and in-breeding. I am inclined to suspect 

 that both are probably imaginary. 



Foxes are relatively numerous, but there is not, 

 and cannot be, such crowding of wild foxes as to pro- 

 duce disease. Of course if disease be started by any 

 of the causes suggested above, where foxes are 

 plentiful, it is more likely to spread. As to in-breed- 

 ing, the habits of the fox forbid that supposition 

 and as a matter of fact much foreign blood has 

 been introduced of late years. Germany, France, 

 Belgium, Sardinia, and possibly Siberia, Scandinavia, 

 Scotland, and Wales, have all contributed to infuse 

 fresh blood into our English fox. 



But from the disease we turn to its prevention, for 

 cure there is none. Of course the soundest method 

 is to cut off the contagion at its source. Turn down 

 no foxes except with the greatest circumspection. 

 Let there be no confined cubs, no poisoned rats, no 

 charges of shot 'To make him leave that.' And 

 above all, and this I believe to be the key of the 

 whole position, preserve the older vixens carefully. 



