FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



fox in a rocky * * Bield,'* and with luck, you know 

 the end of the chase is then in view. In go the 

 terriers, a few minutes of excited barking on their 

 part ensues, then, hke a shadow, a tired fox sHps 

 away. Hounds get a view, and pell-mell down 

 the snow-clad breast they go. The fox does his 

 best, but he cannot pull clear, so instead he sinks 

 his teeth into the shoulder of the fleet-footed 

 bitch which rolls him over, and it is Who-Whoop ! 

 Sometimes a fresh fox will bolt, and away go 

 hounds with their new quarry, while the terriers 

 are tracking the run fox underground. If you 

 stay where you are, they may bring him back, 

 I have known it happen ; although the chances are 

 he will seek refuge elsewhere when hounds begin 

 to press him. 



In January and February, where there is one 

 fox, there will generally be another, for it is the 

 period known to our ancestors as " clicketting " 

 time, when the dog fox goes in search of a vixen. 

 Then you will see two lines of fox tracks running 

 side by side, and sometimes jumbled together, 

 but never do two foxes step exactly in one an- 

 other's footprints, leaving what appears to be a 

 single line of tracks, as do the American timber 

 wolves. 



At night, when the moon shines down from a 

 star-lit sky, or the wind drifts the eddying snow- 

 flakes, and whistles amongst the crags, you can 

 hear the foxes barking and calling far up the fell- 

 side. If you wander that way in the morning, 

 the tale of the night's doings will be plainly 

 printed in the snow. Then is the time to study 

 the habits of your quarry. You will learn more 

 about foxes by following their footprints in the 

 snow, than by any other method, and the same 

 applies to otters, as well as other wild four-footed 



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