Fox Preservation Food of the Fox. 521 



what animal they least resemble, one would most probably 

 say a fox; for their whole appearance, combined with the 

 growling they make and the amount of inside mouth shown 

 when anyone interferes with them, is more like the bear 

 than anything else. They are very slow of growth, and 

 sometimes far exceed eighteen months before attaining 

 their real size and becoming " full grown." When taken 

 quite young, and if they be carefully reared, the cubs 

 become very tame, and individual foxes forget their natural 

 state, or have no instinctive craving for it, and may be 

 trusted to roam about loose. We had one for some time, 

 a great favourite with younger members of the household, 

 besides being of considerable use in killing rats occasionally, 

 and, moreover, pigeons continually, until these latter learnt 

 the length of " Charlie's " tether. When found he could 

 not have been a fortnight old. It is, however, necessary 

 to observe great caution with regard to giving such foxes 

 their liberty, for if they should take to their natural life, 

 once having effected their escape, they are several times 

 more destructive and audacious than others. 



A few days before the bitch litters, and also imme- 

 diately after, the dog fox makes it his business to provide 

 her with food, and if we may judge from the quantity 

 of provender which is brought together for her proper 

 sustenance, she must indeed be possessed of a ravenous 

 appetite. However, the fox, like most other vermin, is, 

 as far as food is concerned, always providing for the 

 proverbial rainy day, and, comparatively speaking, is very 

 nearly as wasteful and destructive in the amount it kills 

 as the stoat or polecat. 



L L 2 



