34 



Game and Foxes. 



ordinary way, and when a length of fifty yards or 

 so is in place, go over it in the following manner. 

 Place a stake through a bottom mesh and stand on 

 it ; then with another stake put in a mesh opposite, 

 press your hardest, and if this is done at intervals 

 between the posts the netting should be as 

 tight as a drum, and perfectly rigid. All posts 

 should be inside, because, if rough and outside, a 

 fox may use them as aids to climbing over. A 

 fox is occasionally keen enough to jump and jump 

 at wire-netting till he gets it to sag sufficiently to 

 allow him to work his way over, and if one is 

 suspected of this trick it is an excellent plan to 

 stretch a single strand of wire on sticks a foot 

 from the ground, and six feet or so from the fence. 

 Reynard will not detect the presence of this 

 wire in the dark, and it will trip him up each 

 time he essays a running jump. Two wires such 

 as described, a yard or thereabouts apart, 

 will be even more effective. Should the fence 

 be low, a wire as suggested must always be 

 provided, for it will prevent Reynard taking the 

 running jump necessary to land him on the 

 other side. It is much more difficult for a fox to 

 clamber up wire netting of large mesh ; his toe- 

 nails catch in small meshes and afford him a 

 firm grip, but his legs slip right through big 



