FOXES AND FOX-FARMING 225 



male sometimes lias been mated successfully 

 with two or even three females. In certain 

 cases this may be desirable, and at an advanced 

 stage of the business may offer no difficulties, 

 but at first it is advisable to handle the animals 

 in pairs. It is possible, also, as proved in a 

 number of instances, to allow male and female 

 to remain together throughout the year with- 

 out bad results, but it is much better to keep 

 them separate, except during the mating sea- 

 son. They may be paired in December or Jan- 

 uary and separated in March or April. The 

 females should be kept in the small enclosures 

 continuously and the young removed when 

 weaned. 



The separation of the sexes is not, as many 

 suppose, to prevent the male from viciously 

 killing the young; for, unless suffering from 

 hunger, he usually is a model parent. But the 

 presence of the male often results in injury to 

 the female during pregnancy, resulting in abor- 

 tion; or it excites her unduly after the young 

 are born, leading to rougher treatment than 

 they are able to stand. 



Some foxes are much better breeders than 



