70 HUNTING. 



incline to mercy, and that at any rate 'give him a chance,' may 

 be the final and peremptory order to the hunt-servants. We 

 may here mention that one of the most remarkable hiding 

 places we have ever seen resorted to by a fox was the large 

 wheel of a mill. 



N.B. — The mill was not going at the time. 



Like other wild animals, the fox is supposed to be, and 

 probably is incapable of recognising his parents or offspring 

 after he has ceased to be dependent on them, or they on him. 

 If this is not so he displays at times an almost human intelli- 

 gence in subordinating family feeling to self-interest, for one of 

 his chosen methods of escape consists in diverting pursuit into 

 another channel, and to this end he hesitates not to push his 

 son or mother out of his or her lair, and to ensconce himself 

 therein till the cry has rolled far away on the track of the 

 improvised scapegoat, when chuckling over the success of his 

 ruse he retires discreetly in the opposite direction. His know- 

 ledge of numerals being elementary, his thoughts are mainly 

 concentrated on No. i, except perhaps during the breeding 

 season, say from March to June — for though hazy in his ideas 

 on the subject of monogamy he does to a certain extent recog- 

 nise his duty as a husband and a father — i.e. he will do some 

 of the foraging, and act most fiercely in the defence of his 

 household ; such matters are indeed distinctly within the sphere 

 of his sporting and fighting instincts. The drawing the earth, 

 and other preparations for the accouchement he is supposed to 

 leave entirely to the vixen, than whom no more devoted mother 

 exists up to the time when, having taught them all she knows, 

 the family party is broken up, and the litter dispersed in the 

 early mornings of cub-hunting. This ' teaching them all she 

 knows ' is of paramount importance in the interests of sport, 

 and if they are not to show sport why preserve foxes ? 



Educated by a watchful but not too indulgent parent in the 

 hereditary cunning and traditions of their ancient race, the 

 cubs soon learn how to take care of themselves in every sense 

 of the word ; but if while young they are deprived of their 



I 



