76 FOXES AT HOME. 



Cubs soon begin to forage for themselves, 

 •especially if there are plenty of rabbits about, 

 but still a sufficient quantity of food should be 

 given them till they are nearly three-parts grown. 

 When, however, they begin to leave any lying 

 about uneaten, or buried here and there, a cer- 

 tain amount can be knocked off with impunity, 

 but it is always better to be on the safe side, as 

 far as food is concerned, as owing to their rapid 

 growth they consume a great deal. Here on 

 the heath I fed them right up to the cubhunting, 

 partly because rabbits were scarce, and by so 

 doing I saved the neighbour's poultry and 

 thereby the funds of the Hunt, and partly in 

 order to keep them from straying away, so that 

 when the hounds came they should be found 

 close home for our own and the keeper's 

 satisfaction. 



Cubs turned down in small thick coverts soon 

 get to know the country, and sometimes show 

 good sport ; but they are loath to leave large 

 woodlands for their first (or the greater part of 

 their first) season. Here in the forest, as the 

 ground was more or less disturbed, they in- 

 variably shifted clean away, after being hunted 

 once or twice, to some remote part, where they 



