70 THE FOX 



stub-bred, and the vixens lay up litters in a convenient 

 lair or a nest above ground. 



We often hear complaints about earth-stopping, 

 but it is well to recollect the difficulties that have to 

 be surmounted. 



The fox is not very regular in his habits; but 

 as a rule, from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. are the 

 hours between which he is abroad. Neverthe- 

 less a great deal depends on the weather, and how 

 soon he finds a sufficiency of food. A fox does not 

 at any time come home and go to bed regularly. 

 Most dog foxes remain above ground and, except 

 when they are hunted or the weather is bad, do not 

 go to ground at all. In mild seasons we may find 

 foxes asleep anywhere, and everyone has instances to 

 tell of foxes fast asleep in the open. I remember 

 when I was hunting in Oxfordshire a well-known 

 covert was drawn blank with the usual sounds as 

 hounds were drawn out. I rode away over a ploughed 

 field, and there, out in the open curled up fast asleep, 

 lay a fine dog fox. 



The danger of stopping foxes in is not perhaps 

 so very great, yet no doubt some foxes are stopped 

 in, and I fear suffocated, every season. The old 

 system of earth-stoppers, where the hunt kept one 

 man who was responsible for the work of others and 



