FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



ticiilar area of ground over which he hunts, and 

 every stick and stone of which he knows by 

 heart. In his nightly wanderings he comes 

 across drains, rabbit burrows and the like, all of 

 which are indelibly stamped on his mind. The 

 next time he is disturbed by hounds, he may, 

 after covering most of the ground he knows, go 

 to earth in one of his new-found retreats. 



The tactics that he employs when hunting 

 often serve to aid him when he himself is hunted. 

 He may on some occasion have accounted for a 

 roosting bird in some ivy-covered tree or wall; 

 and remembering this he is quite likely to visit such 

 spots and ensconce himself above ground when 

 hounds are on his line. Whatever he does, should 

 he escape by that means once, he is pretty sure to 

 adopt the same plan again and again. By 

 degrees he is sure to become acquainted with the 

 spots where other foxes lie, and when hard pressed 

 he may as a last resort turn one of these foxes out 

 and usurp his place. Then, when hounds race 

 up, they are likely to drive ahead on the new line, 

 leaving the tired fox to make his way back later 

 to where he was found. 



In his hunting, experience teaches him which 

 are the best tactics to employ. He may try 

 conclusions in a race with rabbit or hare, but 

 sooner or later he finds that a stealthy approach 

 and a quick spring pay much better and call for 

 less exertion on his part. When the coverts are 

 being shot, a certain amount of wounded game 

 escapes, and when the sport is over the fox 

 enjoys a very satisfactory gleaning. It may 

 be that in time he comes to connect the sound 

 of distant shots with a possible food supply, for 

 foxes have been known to put in an appearance 

 during a covert shoot, when at other times they 

 were conspicuous by their absence. 



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