TAME FOXES. 129 



Immediately ran away and buried, and returning 

 curled herself up between my feet, whilst I sat 

 on a tussock, and to all appearance went fast 

 asleep, as she seemed rather tired, evidently 

 having been on the move all night. She 

 remained thus for nearly an hour, as I did not 

 like to disturb her rest. Suddenly she sprang 

 up and, placing her fore-paws on my knee like 

 a dog, looked over the heath in evident alarm, 

 and presently I saw the keeper appear along a 

 ride quite 300 yards away, so that whilst 

 apparently quite sound asleep her senses were 

 very wide awake. Foxes often sleep very 

 heavily, especially after a hard night and pro- 

 bably a late meal, and in this way frequently 

 fall victims to the hounds before they have time 

 to get well on their legs. 



I frequently took Kitty out ferreting, and she 

 got to understand the business at once, and 

 entered into the sport with great delight. She 

 did not take the slightest notice of the report of 

 the gun, but sat listening to the rumbling of the 

 rabbits underground, and then placed herself 

 close to the hole from which she expected them 

 to bolt, and the instant they appeared she had 

 them in her grip. I was always afraid the ferret 



