58 THE FOX. 



about his destruction. When in the end this old 

 fox was dug out and killed, he was found to have 

 one paw badly crippled, having evidently left part 

 of it in a trap years ago, which accounted for 

 his extreme wariness thereafter in avoiding such 

 engines of warfare. 



An experienced fox-trapper, however, is pretty 

 sure of his pelt so long as it is worth his while to 

 persevere in the pursuit of it. There is one thing 

 that effectively hides the scent of steel running 

 water. Therefore the trapper suspends his bait in 

 the branches of a bush overhanging a stream, just 

 so high that the fox, standing in the water, is bound 

 to jump for it. His traps he sets in the water, 

 directly below, so that any fox trying to get 

 the bait is sure to encounter one of them, and 

 having encountered it, he inevitably springs the 

 second. 



Foxes are fond of following water on their 

 nightly forays, game being most abundant there ; 

 so another method is to set the trap in the centre 

 of a narrow stream, covering it with moss so as to 

 form a little island directly above the spring-plate. 

 Baits are then set on each side of the stream, so 

 that any fox coming along is sure to locate the bait 

 on his side. Having taken it and found it to his 

 liking, he noses round for more, and it is then oh 

 fatal discovery! that he scents the bait on the 

 opposite bank. A fox hates to wet his feet, and 

 he makes a leap for the deceptive island of moss 

 in mid-stream, when ping ! He is caught ! 



The commonest method employed by game- 

 keepers in trapping foxes is to utilise the stinking 

 carcass of a cat, placing it in such a position that 

 the fox is sure to locate it, and setting the traps 

 all round. A fox cannot resist the attraction of 



