HABITS OF FOXES 55 



probably return, or endeavour to return, to the place 

 where he was found, especially if there be any earths 

 in that locality. If foiled in that attempt and driven 

 into a country with which he is unacquainted, the 

 difference in his style of running may be detected ; 

 holding coverts, main earths, dingles, and such like 

 places are no longer objects which he endeavours to 

 gain. Not being aware of their locality he will now 

 pass by a head of earths, or skirt a covert. 



Whether a fox will instantly quit a large wood on 

 being disturbed by hounds will depend on circum- 

 stances. If it happens that he gets on his legs consider- 

 ably in advance of the pack, and the scent is not good 

 enough to press him, in all probability he will continue 

 to run those paths with which he is intimately 

 acquainted, among thorny brakes and briars, through 

 which the hounds find a difficulty in following him. If 

 he escapes the first attempt made on his life, by what- 

 ever means he effects his safety, I believe he will, on 

 ever\' future occasion, if possible, resort to the same 

 manoeuvre ; and as this is a conclusion which I have 

 arrived at from observation, I shall, in due order, relate 

 some events in support of this opinion. 



Foxes which are bred in extensive woodlands where 

 game is not profuse, although not so wild in their 

 nature as the mountain breeds, are much more so than 

 those which are bred in small coverts, gorse preserves, 

 and spinnies abounding with rabbits appropriated to 

 their support. Where game is assiduously cultivated 

 it becomes necessary to supply the foxes with food 

 during the breeding season, and it is the trouble of 

 doing that which occasions some of the animosity which 

 many keepers entertain against the speciesi. As to foxes 

 taking game to any extent if well fed at the time I have 

 named, it is a perfect fallacy. But I will not go so far 

 as to assert that such semi-domesticated foxes will 

 afford the runs those do which are compelled to seek 

 their own living in a wilder manner. Hunted by hounds 

 themselves, foxes retaliate upon the inferior animals, 



