THE CUB AS HUNTER 



CHAPTER IV 



CUBS which have been mothered by a vixen of 

 experience are well fitted for the battle 

 with life when the time comes for them to 

 go "on their own." Play, in which all cubs 

 regularly indulge, from the moment they leave 

 the earth for the first time, hardens their muscles 

 and keeps them in brisk bodily health. They 

 are ever alert and on the qui vive for an3rthing 

 that moves, from the w4nd-blown leaf to the 

 crawling insect. They first learn to kill when the 

 vixen brings home a crippled rabbit or some 

 other creature in whose body life is not yet ex- 

 tinct. On these occasions each cub learns to 

 take his own part, and stand up for himself, as the 

 general scramble for the tit-bit often leads to loss 

 of temper and much hissing and growling. 



In every litter there is apt to be a ring-leader, 

 generally a cub rather larger and more pre- 

 cocious than his fellows. It is such an one which 

 is first at a killing ; and the smaller members of 

 the family suffer somewhat from his bullying 

 attentions. Such a cub develops quickly, and is 

 no doubt of considerable assistance to the vixen 

 in teaching the rest of his brothers and sisters. 

 Should the vixen come to an untimely end — as 

 occasionally happens in spring and summer — 

 the precocious member of the litter may to some 

 extent fill the position of the departed parent. 



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