48 FOXES AT HOME. 



hesitation. Later on, however, when the cubs 

 have grown stronger, she comes out earher 

 and has a good look round, frequently, before 

 starting on her prowl, carrying into the earth 

 some piece of food previously buried close by, 

 in order to keep the cubs quiet and in the earth 

 during her absence. 



When the cubs are about half the size of a 

 rabbit, which would be when they are about six 

 weeks old or so (it is astonishing how quickly 

 cubs grow), the vixen kennels outside, and 

 returns to the earth at nightfall to suckle them. 

 She does not then bring any food wdth her. As 

 soon as she arrives at the mouth of the hole^ 

 the cubs, which have evidently been waiting for 

 her just inside, rush out to meet her, tumbling 

 over each other in their eagerness, and she 

 suckles them at the mouth of the hole, sitting 

 up the while, and keeping both eye and ear on 

 the alert to detect any approach of danger ; and 

 should an observer, in his anxiety to get a better 

 view, unfortunately expose an eager face to her 

 sharp glance, or snap the rotten branch which 

 invariably comes underneath one at the all 

 important moment ; or if the midges and mos- 

 quitoes, which are often most troublesome at 



