126 FOXES AT HOME. 



was on such an occasion that the accident 

 occurred which cost him his Hfe. The fourth 

 Duke of Richmond died of hydrophobia in 

 1 8 19, caused by a tame fox, which never left 

 him, having Hcked the blood off his chin when 

 he had cut himself in shaving ; which proves 

 that hydrophobia can be given to a human 

 being by an animal not itself suffering from 

 rabies. \'ixens (like our own fair sex) are 

 much more gentle and affectionate, as a rule, 

 than the dogs ; but, also, they can be very 

 '•' snappish '' at times, if put out, and my advice 

 then is '' leave them alone ! '' 



I once had a very tame vixen, which was 

 given me when she was almost full grown, 

 and she used to jog along with me when 

 out for a walk, and hunt rabbits with my 

 spaniels, manifesting the greatest delight 

 whenever I came to fetch her for a prowl. 

 She went through thick cover, heath, gorse, 

 or bracken, like an eel through weeds, and a 

 rabbit had to be indeed smart to escape her 

 in the first few strides. The spaniels, who were 

 perfectly free from chase, were much disgusted 

 at what I suppose they considered her wildness 

 and want of training, as whenever she went 



