FOXES 105 



No. 1 is high enough again to do so. The second 

 half can then be burned down in its turn. 

 Gorses are often made so large there is consider- 

 able difficulty in forcing foxes to leave them ; 

 and by dividing them into two parts this danger 

 is much reduced. 



Q. When should gorse be burned or cut 

 down ? 



A. When it is so old it has become hollow 

 underneath, and becomes distasteful to foxes 

 from being draughty, and not affording sufficient 

 shelter. 



Q. Is the practice of turning out foxes detri- 

 mental to pheasants and partridges, while they 

 are sitting ? 



A. No, they do practically no harm then. 



Q. How can this be ? Gamekeepers are apt 

 to say just the reverse. 



A. A little reflection will show the reason of 

 this statement. No M.F.H. would think of turn- 

 ing out an old fox, for it would at once try to 

 make away towards its own home, though if it 

 came from a long distance this would probably 

 be futile. It would, however, be unlikely to 

 settle down where it was turned out. Most cubs 

 are dropped in March, so that even if they were 

 turned loose in May or June, they would be too 

 young to harm sitting game. Cubs of that 

 tender age, moreover, are too small to look after 

 themselves, and are kept in confinement, and fed 

 artificially until they have grown enough to have 

 a fair chance of getting their own living ; which, 

 however, will have to be supplemented for some 

 time with rabbits, wood-pigeons, rats, or small 

 birds, shot for them to supplement their dinners. 



