FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



and the less likely it is to be tampered with if its 

 whereabouts chances to become known. 



In most artificial earths there are stone or 

 flag-lined entrances, while the inside ramifications 

 of the retreat are much restricted in the matter 

 of room. Any people of doubtful character 

 therefore can easily bolt or kill a fox with terriers 

 in such an earth. The plan on which it is made 

 is too straightforward and simple, whereas in a 

 big natural earth a fox has several avenues of 

 escape. 



The exact location of an artificial earth is 

 usually supposed to be known only to certain 

 people closely connected with the Hunt, but I 

 am afraid information concerning these matters 

 often leaks out through various channels. If an 

 artificial earth is considered indispensable, the 

 stick-heap pattern is as good as any. The 

 method of construction is as follows : 



A suitable location is first chosen on dry ground 

 which is unlikely to be flooded. This may be 

 in the corner of a field, or in a small covert. The 

 soil must not be of too sandy a nature, otherwise 

 the foxes will dig out below the sticks, and rabbits 

 will take to harbouring in the earth. The corner 

 of a field is a good place to set to work, because 

 the fences keep the place sheltered, and the en- 

 trances to the stick heap can be made on the 

 sides facing the fences. The ground plan should 

 be about 30 ft. x 30 ft., and there should be from 

 9ft. to 12 ft. between the fences and the outside 

 of the heap. The walls of the latter are built up 

 with old trees, roots, stumps, etc. These having 

 been built, the middle is then filled in with similar 

 material, laid so that passages are left from the 

 three entrances — at the inside corner, and the 

 two sides — ^towards the centre. The material 



102 



