THE FOX. 27 



escape, and I have heard numerous tales to the 

 above effect, for the accuracv of which I am 

 unfortunately unable to vouch. 



Foxes are not polygamous for choice like the 

 domestic dog, they stick as a rule to one 

 partner, for the season at any rate. In a 

 district, however, where the vixens are in the 

 majority, one dog may take up with two (or 

 perhaps even more), but when the dogs out- 

 number the vixens the latter will not admit of 

 the attentions of more than one, and I do not 

 think they select their mates, but that it is a 

 case of the survival of the fittest, and that the 

 weakest have to take a back seat. 



I once saw tw^o dog foxes and a vixen 

 jogging along together in the morning, the 

 rival suitors having a fierce '^ set-to " every now 

 and again, whilst the vixen did not seem to care 

 much which would be the victor. Eventually 

 one got the worst of it, and followed behind at 

 a respectful distance until the others went to 

 ground in an open earth, when he retired to his 

 kennel in some high heath and young fir trees 

 close by, where he was found by the hounds 

 that very afternoon, and killed after a short run. 

 What hard luck ! On the same day to be, first, 



