CHAPTER XXX 

 PUPPIES AND FOX-CUBS 



POPULAR phrase has done a great injustice in making 

 the words "puppy" and "cub" synonyms for social 

 shortcomings. Properly understood puppies are among 

 the most attractive of all young animals ; and fox-cubs, 

 and even wolf-cubs, are not very far behind them in 

 engaging qualities when in their nursery days. 



Mr. Tom Smith, who was at various times master 

 of the Hambledon, Craven, and Pytchley hounds, and 

 knew more about foxes than any man of his day, dated 

 the birth of the fox, whose life-story he made a sporting 

 classic, from March 25, and stated his belief that within 

 a month from that date every litter in England was born. 

 The corresponding generation of foxhound puppies, who 

 are being brought up to hunt the cubs later on, appear 

 as a rule rather earlier. Consequently the families of 

 the hunters and the hunted are in the nursery at about 

 the same time ; and as no vixen has more than one 

 family in a year, she is free to devote herself entirely 

 to her cubs till they are five or six months old, and 

 would probably do so for several months longer if the 

 family were not dispersed by cub-hunting. Vixens 

 are as good mothers as cats, and equally clever, both 

 in providing food and in moving their young from 



