CUBS, FOXES, AND VIXENS. 27 1 



he will prove you, and find out if you are true 

 to him in rearing foxes. I say this as a 

 warning to keepers who take places where 

 foxes are considered before pheasants, and I 

 caution them to be straightforward with such 

 masters, because if they are not their masters 

 will soon find them out. 



I was told to look at my earths in Thrupps 

 cover, to see if there were any signs of cubs. 

 I did so, and reported to my master that I 

 believed there were cubs in the large earths by 

 the pit. 



" Well," said he, " I will go with you and 

 have a look at them, Wilkins." So he did, 

 and, after inspecting the earths, he said : — 

 " Yes, I think there are cubs ; look well after 

 them, Wilkins." " Very good, sir," said I. 



After a few days he asked me again what I 

 thought about the cubs, whether there were 

 any or not. I said 1 still thought there were 

 some. "Are you sure, Wilkins?" he said. 

 " Yes, I am pretty sure of it, sir." " How do 

 you know ? " "I shot a rabbit, and dropped 

 it near the earths, sir, and it was gone 



