82 Game and Foxes. 



to cause an outbreak of mange. He who breeds 

 mange amongst foxes makes a rod for his own 

 back, but this subject is dealt with elsewhere. 

 With reference to cubs which have never known a 

 vixen's care since they first came out of the earth 

 to play, it may unhesitatingly be asserted that 

 they eventually do far greater damage to the 

 estate which shelters them. Such foxes have 

 always been fed at home, and they continue to 

 feed at home, while others which have occasionally 

 accompanied the vixen on foraging excursions 

 carry on their feeding over a far wider area. 



Finally, the author would like to remark that a 

 frequent and regular examination of the earth will 

 be a means of revealing what the vixen is doing 

 and on what she is feeding her cubs ; feathers, 

 wings, feet, etc., are sure to be left lying about, 

 and these will be a guide to the keeper as to 

 whether she is paying undue attention to sitting- 

 birds. Should she be engaged in this, find out 

 the direction in which she is working, and strive 

 to check her. 



