THE FOX 261 



about for them ; and at this time of the year it is 

 well worth while to employ some persons to look 

 out for these customers. 



Cubs which are bought and turned out seldom 

 come to anything, although they are as fine-looking 

 foxes as ^\'ild ones, unless they are allowed to 

 remain where they are put do^\ai till late in the 

 season, at all events till after Christmas, by which 

 time they have learnt to find their own food, and 

 have probably been moved by shooters, dogs, etc., 

 and have learnt their way about from cover to 

 cover. But if a litter of cubs has been put do'v\ii in a 

 wood and regularly fed, although they are all fine 

 foxes, and hunted so early as September, in October 

 or November they may be found once ; but they 

 will be frightened away from the ground they 

 know and from their food to a strange country, 

 where they will be in a star^dng state, which A\ill 

 obhge them to visit dangerous places, sheepfolds,etc., 

 and they will nearly all, most probably, be killed by 

 shepherds' dogs or others ; not one may ever find 

 its way back. This is a caution well worthy of 

 attention by those who happen to have foxes 

 brought them which were bred in their own 

 country ; but it is strange that any one will buy his 

 neighbour's foxes, for how would any man hke to 



