1 1 8 Photographing a Wild Fox 



having found it, I was more worried than the foxes, 

 for I feared some one else might discover it too. If 

 so, the young would be dug out, the home destroyed, 

 and my fox-study ended. 



It was nearly noon when I completed the study of 

 the den and its surroundings. To the south I could 

 hear the hound, but after waiting some time for him 

 to come back I returned to the house without him, 

 and he arrived about two hours later. 



During the afternoon I laid plans for the further 

 study of the old fox. The following morning I led 

 the dog to the former place of starting. The fox 

 immediately appeared just as he had done the previous 

 day, and away they ran over the course of the morning 

 before. With field glass in hand I followed until I 

 reached a point on the side of the ravine opposite 

 the den from which I commanded a full view of the 

 valley below, as well as of the den. Here I concealed 

 myself and awaited further developments. 



The sound of the hound's baying died away in the 

 distance, and for an hour the stillness was broken 

 only by the occasional song of the birds and the 

 chirp of insects. Then again I heard the hound, and 

 in a little while he appeared in sight in the valley 

 below. He had apparently lost the trail, and so it 

 proved; for in another half -hour he passed my place 



