Geiieral Remarks. 105 



as possible after hunting ceases. On the outside 

 of the fence he throws up one or two banks of 

 earth at equal distances apart, up these the foxes 

 at liberty run, and from the top they leap Into 

 the enclosure to join the one already there. 

 This they do freely till hardly one remains outside. 

 Like the rest, they are liberally fed on live rabbits, 

 and duly released when they can do little harm, In 

 perfect health and condition. This Is a plan which 

 might be more widely practised, If carried out as 

 carefully, with every benefit to sporting Interests. 



Another keeper, a well-known man In his pro- 

 fession, vouched that he secured the safety of his 

 nesting game by performing on every cub a slight 

 operation which utterly destroyed its scenting 

 faculties. How he contrived to do this he could 

 never be persuaded to divulge, but observation of 

 the habits of his foxes certainly went to prove that 

 something of the kind had been done. They could 

 not smell a red-herring, were compelled to hunt for 

 food by aid of eyes alone, and a bird on its nest 

 was rarely destroyed. Food not being easy to pro- 

 cure under such conditions, these foxes had to 

 work hard for It and range far, and consequently 

 grew to be very active and vigorous. The keeper 

 who practises this is fond of assertmg it to be 

 the only solution of the problem of producing 



