I 1 8 Ga?ne and Foxes. 



are attracted to the spot — and how ? Why, simply 

 by the cleanings or afterbirths of the ewes being 

 merely thrown outside the pen instead of buried 

 deeply out of the way. Either fox or dog will go 

 miles for such fare as this, and the odour, which 

 savours strongly of newborn lamb, attracts them 

 from over a long distance. If a fox is encouraged 

 in this way, is it to be wondered at that a lamb is 

 stolen when afterbirths are no longer to be had ? 

 Were these disposed of properly, a fox would not 

 consider it worth his while to visit the lambing 

 fold. 



The same remarks apply to the dead lambs of 

 tender age, which the shepherd is too lazy to bury, 

 for these, too, are generally thrown into some 

 convenient ditch, or covert, where a fox can feed 

 on them. In this way a liking for such food is 

 engendered, and when dead lamb is no longer 

 available, that alive has to pay the penalty. A 

 farmer who permits his shepherd to leave dead 

 lambs lying about is deserving of little sympathy 

 should foxes attack his young flock. 



Foxes are frequently blamed for killing almost 

 mature mutton, when dogs are the real culprits ;. 

 the latter feed on their victim and leave it, and a 

 fox passing near is attracted to the spot and alsa 

 enjoys a meal. The tracks of one or several foxes 



