THE FOX 113 



from the shelter of the bushes but a few yards 

 away. The dog-foxes answered simultaneously, 

 after which he heard them come pattering over 

 the dry fallen leaves with which the wood was 

 carpeted. Next there was a hissing growl, followed 

 by much spitting and hissing, which suddenly 

 resolved itself into a confused noise of rolling, 

 tumbling, and snarling, the undergrowth breaking 

 and tearing as the combatants struggled to and 

 fro. For ten minutes or more it went on, during 

 which he could not see a thing, though it was 

 evident from the noise they were fighting furiously. 

 The battle ended abruptly, there was a pause, 

 and he heard them gallop off. Whether they had 

 had enough of the combat, or whether one of them 

 had caught his scent and had taken alarm, he did 

 not know; they vanished into the night and the 

 darkness betrayed no more. 



In this country fox-cubs are born from February 

 to May, but the former month is exceptionally 

 early, the end of March and beginning of April 

 being the more usual time. Previous to the 

 arrival of her family the vixen explores all the 

 holes in the neighbourhood, from proper fox 

 earths to mere rabbit holes, that are likely to make 

 good nurseries, and when she has made her choice 

 remains near it, or even uses it as her daily retreat. 

 Very often, especially if a rabbit hole has been 

 chosen, the abode has to be altered and enlarged, 

 when the freshly drawn pile of soil without, tells 

 the tale of what has been happening underground. 

 The type of hole the vixen prefers above all others 



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