84 FOXES AT HOME. 



buried the food. On getting to the top of a 

 Httle hillock, where he could see the other cub 

 hard at work, he paused for a moment with such 

 a funny expression of indignation on his little 

 face, as much as if he said, " Well, I'm blessed 

 if ever I saw such cheek ! " and with his brush 

 in the air, and a little snarl of rage, he dashed 

 down on the offender, who, seizing as many 

 pieces as he could carry, bolted right to where 

 I stood a few yards away, almost running against 

 my legs, and disappeared in the bracken behind 

 my back. The pursuer saw me when he had 

 come within a few feet, and stopped for a second 

 or two, but after having a good stare he con- 

 tinued the chase, and, judging from the fierce 

 scuffling I heard later on, evidently very soon 

 caught up the fugitive, who had apparently 

 stopped to continue his meal as soon as he 

 thought he could do so with impunity. 



On another occasion I had turned down two 

 cubs — a dog and a vixen — the remnants of a litter 

 which had been dug out and done away with on 

 a neighbouring farm. They were rather large 

 when I got them, and it is a mistake to turn 

 cubs down when they are too old, as they are 

 then more apt to stray away and be either killed 



