6o FOXES AT HOME. 



watch one litter whilst I went myself to another 

 over a mile distant ; just at dusk I heard a vixen 

 squall in the direction he had gone and when 

 we met afterwards to compare notes I asked if 

 the vixen I had heard was squalling at him. 

 He blushingly confessed that she had been, but 

 that she had come right on top of him as he 

 watched the cubs at play, and he hoped I would 

 not hear her. 



Once in order to see a litter of cubs at play I 

 had to climb to the top of a very high fir-tree, 

 and whilst in this precarious position, watching 

 them intently through my glasses, the vixen 

 suddenly and unexpectedly squalled at the foot of 

 the tree, and I nearly dropped from my perch. 

 So I mention this as a warning to others, if 

 ever similarly situated, to sit, or rather hold, 

 very tight. 



When a vixen comes up to the earth to her 

 cubs she does not remain for more than a few 

 minutes and then goes off in search of food. 

 When watching cubs, therefore, it is much 

 better to wait till she has gone right away 

 before attempting to retire, as, if within hearing, 

 she will detect you at once. 



As the cubs grow larger, about the size of 



