154 WITH NATURE AND A CAMERA. 



eight feet in length, and leading straight away 

 from the hole at which the Fox had entered. Upon 

 this path he built a substantial passage, nine or ten 

 inches wide by twelve or thirteen in height, which 

 narrowed somewhat abruptly at its outer end into 

 a mere slit through which it was impossible for 

 the prisoner to escape. About one-third of the 

 distance from the end of the passage, built over 

 the hole by which Reynard had entered his lair, 

 the stones forming the sides and roof were so 

 arranged as to allow a heavy slate to work up 

 and down with ease in the form of a sluice. 

 The slate had a hole through its upper part, and 

 to this was tied a strong piece of string which 

 was passed over a smooth stick arranged like a 

 trestle close to the slate, so as to suspend it in a 

 perfectly plumb position and thus allow it to work 

 up and down with ease. The string then ran 

 forward to another trestle placed almost directly 

 over the outer end of the passage, and finally ended 

 in a small brass ring, which was passed over the 

 end of a short piece of stick protruding horizontally 

 from the slit. Directly the Fox came forward 

 along the passage and began to sniff the fresh air 

 and try to widen the slit by scratching, he put his 

 foot on the inner end of the stick and at once 

 so depressed it that the brass ring slipped off its 

 opposite end and released the slate, which instantly 

 fell and effectually barred retreat to his stronghold 

 in the rocks. 



Foxes caught in this way are often shown round 

 amongst hill farmers, who are very glad to see such 

 inveterate enemies of their Geese in captivity, and 

 then ruthlessly slain, or taken to some huntable 

 part of the country and turned down in front of a 

 pack of hounds. 



