14 THE LIFE OF A FOX 



place, declaring his conviction that there were cubs 

 within, and that he would have them out another 

 day. He was, however, disappointed, for our mother 

 that night took us one by one to a large earth in a 

 neighbouring wood. We were now two months 

 old, and ceased to draw our mother's milk, which 

 we no longer needed, as we were able to kill a 

 rabbit or pluck the feathers of a fowl when she 

 brought it to us, as well as she. Some of these 

 feathers, which in our frolics we had carried to the 

 mouth of the earth, once betrayed us to a couple 

 of poachers, who had been lurking about the wood, 

 and who noticing them, procured a long stick and 

 thrust it into the earth, nearly breaking the ribs of 

 one of my brothers. When they pulled it out 

 again, they found the end of it covered with his 

 hairs. This satisfied them, and leaving us scrambling 

 and huddling together up to the back of the earth, 

 they went away, resolving to come back next day 

 with tools to unearth us, and expecting, as they 

 said, to sell us for half-a-guinea apiece. 



they may be more easily arched, like an oven, without having wood 

 supports. 



The passages should be floored with bricks or flints, to prevent 

 rabbits from digging. 



It is desirable to have the low passages not more than seven inches 

 high, to exclude dogs. Four-inch work at the sides is sufficient, 

 except for a foot or two at the entrance. 



