40 Game and Foxes. 



during the rearing season, and once day breaks 

 half the danger from foxes has passed. The best 

 watcher at night on a rearing-field the author ever 

 knew was perfectly bhnd, and because of that his 

 every other faculty was rendered more keen. 

 This man would detect the rustling of a fox in the 

 grass long before it became apparent to an 

 ordinary individual, and not the slightest flutter of 

 a bird escaped his ear. For many years he 

 enjoyed regular summer employment as a watcher 

 at night on the rearing-field, and not once when 

 he was present did a fox get unnoticed amongst 

 the birds. Where the services of such a watch- 

 man can be secured he may be employed with the 

 greatest confidence. 



A watcher intent on listening for tokens of a 

 fox's presence should remain perfectly quiet ; it is 

 an ordinary practice for a man thus engaged to 

 keep shouting or blowing a horn, but from 

 constantly hearing these sounds a fox becomes 

 accustomed to them and treats them with 

 contempt. It is a far better plan to keep still, and 

 shout or blow a horn only when it is thought or 

 known that a fox is at hand. The sudden noise 

 and alarm are sure to cause him to beat a hasty 

 retreat. Foxes are at times very persistent, and 

 the author has actually chased one from coop to 



