152 



HUNTING. 



stones or the water washes a way through, or a rabbit, a 

 fox, or a badger has scratched a way in, and a good run 

 may be spoilt by the fox going to ground there. If the 

 drain is grated it should be constantly looked at. The 

 better way is to set the grating in masonry about a yard in 

 to avoid its being stolen, but that makes it more difficult to 

 see if the water has scowered sufficiently under it to make 

 room for a fox after a little drawing by a rabbit. In the 



spring of the year it is better not to ' stop out,' so as to 

 let vixens get to ground. When there are cubs about, the 

 ' putting to ' should not be too late, say about 8 a.m., for 

 vixens when their cubs get strong go in and suckle the little 

 ones, but often come out again and take up a position near, 

 whence they can watch the earth, because the cubs scratch and 

 worry the mother ; and if the earth is ' put to ' too late the 

 vixen gets stopped out instead of being stopped in. KiUing 



