FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



is no guide to either the sex or age. I am inclined 

 to think that the majority of white-tagged brushes 

 are carried by dog foxes, though I have kept no 

 records of those I have seen killed. The amount 

 of white on the brush varies, sometimes it is 

 barely visible, while again it may be a distinct 

 white band, two or three inches in width. 



The colour of the fox is influenced more or less 

 by his surroundings, at any rate as far as the 

 original strain is concerned. In John Peel's 

 time and before, the foxes of the Lake District 

 were much greyer than they are now. The 

 specimens that one sees of these " old timers" 

 under glass cases in the various fell-side farm 

 houses prove this. Although to-day the fell 

 packs often kill foxes with greyish jackets, the 

 inclination is towards a rufous shade in the 

 majority of foxes. The fox whose coat harmonizes 

 with his surroundings, is less noticeable in his 

 travels abroad than one whose body covering is a 

 contrast to the things around him. In my 

 experience, very many of the foxes inhabiting the 

 high fells of Cumberland and Westmorland 

 to-day, are badly off as regards colour conceal- 

 ment. For instance : on April 23rd, 1920, I 

 was returning from an expedition on the fells. 

 Walking along a certain top, from whence I could 

 see into the dale below, a bright yellowish-red 

 spot caught my eye. The sun was shining at 

 the time, and though the object was some two 

 hundred yards below me in the breast of the hill, 

 I could recognize it as a fox lying on a grassy ledge. 

 To make sure however I examined it with field 

 glasses, which left no doubt whatever as to its 

 being a fox stretched out asleep. Had this fox 

 been grey, it would never have attracted my 

 attention, as I was not specially on the look out for 



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