CHAPTER IV. 



FOXES AND THE REARING FIELD. 



Every gamekeeper would be happier were his 

 pheasants at all stages of their existence pro- 

 tected from foxes as easily as they are while on 

 the rearing field, but this is out of the question, 

 for at a certain age the birds must be allowed 

 their liberty in the coverts if they are to afford 

 good sport. However, with the exercise of due 

 care, the rearer w^ho has his broods destroyed by 

 foxes on the rearing field is, unless the circum- 

 stances be exceptional, very much to blame. 



The most popular and effective method of 



excluding foxes from the rearing field is to erect 



wire netting, enclosing it to a height of from six to 



eight feet, and this requires to be put up in correct 



style, or it will be of little effect for the purpose 



'J intended. Six-feet netting is hardly high enough, 



\\ and nothing less than^eight feet is recommended, 



I two feet of this being bent over outwards at a 



sharp angle, and held in that position by iron rods 



