THE FOX 265 



foxes in parts of a country where there are no 

 holding covers, and in which part of the country it 

 may be desirable to some residents, all of whom, if 

 they have any land, have it in their power, at a 

 trifling expense, to get native foxes ; and the 

 gi'eater the distance from large covers, the better 

 mil be the runs, if these foxes get to them. It 

 often happens that a ^ixen fox, mth or mthout 

 cubs, is dug out, and brought to the master of the 

 hounds, probably by accident, or from a part of the 

 country which is seldom or never hunted, ^^^len 

 this is the case, the plan is to make a false earth, — 

 a di'ain about three feet deep or more, where 

 necessary, about twelve inches mde ; to be fomly 

 covered over mth tliick boards, or rough timber ; 

 then cover it with earth, well rammed doA^^l ; the 

 drain to be about ten yards long, at the end a 

 space about three feet square. Then get a light, 

 but strong chain, and a strong collar, and chain 

 up the A-ixen ; the end of the chain to be fastened 

 about six feet mthin the hole, so that when the 

 fox goes in to the end, she di'aws into the di'ain all 

 the chain. The cubs to be put in mth her. They 

 will remain mth the 'sixen until they have found 

 then- way about the country ; and by Christmas 

 they will have found out the nearest covers, 



