THE FOX. 17 



Foxes, as a rule, prefer to kennel above ground, 

 selecting some retired place where they can 

 rest undisturbed ; their bed being round like 

 that of a dog, and they are particularly fond of 

 gorse coverts, especially natural, or self-sown 

 ones, where each bush is like an umbrella, dry 

 underneath and thick overhead, which last for 

 generations without being touched. 



The worst of an artificial, or hand-sown, gorse 

 is that it is generally planted too thick, and, 

 although it forms a splendid resort for foxes for 

 some years, is most diflfiicult to draw, or if of 

 large extent to force a fox away from. In 

 good soil it soon becomes rampike and thin 

 overhead, and requires to be burnt (not cut) 

 every six or eight years. When this is done 

 the burnt stems should not be removed, as 

 they help to shelter and protect the young 

 shoots. 



Rhododendrons are an excellent cover, and 

 have the advantage over gorse that the older 

 they become the better cover they are. Reeds 

 round the edges of lakes, withy beds, tussocks 

 in bogs, where they can curl up high and dry, 

 although almost surrounded by water, pollards, 

 old oaks and other hollow trees, they are very 



