66 Hounds 



long as the bitch of the wolf bears her whelps. Some- 

 times more, sometimes less, save that the vixen fox 

 whelped under the earth deeper than doth the bitch 

 of the wolf. . . . With great trouble men can take 

 a fox, especially the vixen when she is with whelps, 

 for when she is with whelps, and is heavy, she always 

 keeps near her hole, for sometimes she whelpeth in 

 a false hole, and sometimes in great burrows, and 

 sometimes in hollow trees, and therefore she draweth 

 always near her burrow, and if she hears anything 

 anon she goeth therein before the hounds can get 

 to her. She is a false beast, and as malicious as a 

 wolf. The hunting for a fox is fair for the good cry 

 of hounds, that follow him so nigh and with so good 

 a will. Always they scent of him for he flies through 

 a thick wood, and also he stinketh ever more. And 

 he will scarcely leave a covert when he is therein. 

 He taketh not to the plain open country, for he 

 trusteth not to his running neither to his defence, 

 for he is too feeble, and if he does, it is because he is 

 forced to by the strength of men and hounds. And 

 he will always hold a covert, and if he could only 

 find a briar to cover himself with, he will cover him- 

 self with that. When he sees that he cannot last 

 then he goes to earth, the nearest he can find which 

 he knoweth well, and then men may dig him out and 

 take him, if it is easy digging, but not amongst the 

 rocks.'* 



