FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



which the animals are accustomed to run wild, 

 will be found quite suitable. A few shrubs and 

 trees are necessary for shelter, and the enclosure 

 should be as secluded as possible. Wire fencing, 

 with a two inch mesh, ten feet high, let into the 

 ground for eighteen inches, with an over hang of 

 two feet at the top, is perfectly fox-proof. In- 

 side the enclosure barrels or dog-kennels are dis- 

 tributed, which the foxes make full use of. Un- 

 less these are supplied, the foxes dig their own 

 earths, and the litters suffer in consequence. 



The average silver fox is omnivorous in his diet. 

 Beetles, grasshoppers, rabbits, chickens, etc., are 

 all greedily eaten; feeding a variety of food also 

 lessens the expense considerably. Horse beef 

 is fed at intervals, about a quarter of a pound of 

 beef and a few scraps being sufficient for each 

 fox per day. 



If over-fed, the foxes become fat and lazy 

 and breed badly. The average weight of a silver 

 fox in good condition is about ten pounds. The 

 cubs are born in April and May, and average five 

 to a litter, though the numbers vary from two to 

 eight. Disease is rare amongst them, and they 

 live peaceably together. The attendants should 

 make it their entire business to look after them. 

 The fur and the disposition of the foxes can be 

 greatly improved by judicious breeding. 



Sufficient has been said to enable the reader 

 to get some idea of the enormous value of the 

 business in America to-day. Important as Rey- 

 nard is from a hunting stand-point, he is of much 

 greater value as a fur-bearing animal, though 

 possibly few people realise his worth in this 

 respect. 



The market value of fox skins of different 



310 



