THE FOX 263 



on the pretence of wishing to see if there are any- 

 more, or some other reason, and ascertain exactly 

 where they were taken from ; then, unknown to 

 the man, go if possible the same night at dark and 

 put the cubs down again in some place, with a 

 little food, where they cannot get away of them- 

 selves ; and although they may have been taken 

 some days, the vixen will be sure to be looking for 

 them, and will find them out, and take care of 

 them ; which, by going very early next morning, 

 he ^vill find is the case, and ten to one but they are 

 safe. The only use of cubs which are turned dowii 

 is to blood the young hounds, and save thereby 

 the necessity of kilhng your native cubs. 



Foreign foxes, it is said, will not show such sport 

 as the foxes of the country ; this may, or may 

 not be, for the fact of having had an extraordinary 

 run with a decided French fox induces the ^viiter 

 to have a better opinion of them. This was a two 

 years old fox which, through not having been moved 

 the first year he was turned do^^^l, survived, and was 

 as stout as any English fox. But it is all waste, both 

 of money and trouble, unless they are left quiet for 

 some time, as stated above, till they get seasoned. 

 That such was the case with this Frenchman, the 

 follo"\\dng account Avill prove. He was found by 



