Fox Preservation Artificial Earths. 529 



chosen, if possible, should be on a gentle slope, so as to 

 drain freely. The next step is to mark out a rough area 

 of some fifteen feet square, and remove the soil from this 

 to the depth of about one foot all over, heaping it up round 

 the sides. Then a piece of pole about nine inches in 

 diameter and a few feet long must be obtained. These 

 materials all at hand, the work of building the earth is 

 commenced. First of all, a few of the tree-roots are drawn 

 together in the middle, and placed in such position as to 

 form with the ground two or three passages diverging from 

 a common centre, of sufficient size to admit of foxes passing 

 about freely and lying up in them. After having filled up 

 the interstices on the surface with faggots, briar roots, &c., 

 the process of covering all in with soil may be proceeded 

 with. By using the pole referred to before, various passages 

 towards this may be formed, the earth, roots, &c., being 

 piled up about the pole, and pressed down in such a manner 

 that when the latter is withdrawn a hole remains. Being 

 on a slope, the earth may be so formed as to have the 

 portion intended for the main chamber at the highest point. 

 It is not a bad plan to dig out a ditch about two feet 

 deep and three feet wide at the extemity of one or two 

 of the entrances, so that the latter are entered from the 

 ditch. The entrances must be carefully formed, and not 

 exceed gin. high by 6in. wide. It may be found necessary 

 to build in a portion of the holes about two feet from each 

 exit of this particular size, otherwise dogs will be able to 

 get in easily. At Fig. 44 we give a plan of an actual 

 earth of this kind, made on a piece of land between two 

 dry ditches, or, rather, what are disused leats formerly taking 



