THE FOX AS OUTLAW isi 



enemy reaches his sensitive nostrils make himself 

 scarce at once. 



In spite of the constant efforts to destroy them by 

 all possible means, foxes still multiply. When they 

 are much persecuted, they choose rocky and inac- 

 cessible places on the sides of mountains for their 

 lairs. Many of these caves and dens are not to be 

 reached by man or dog, and though, when the young 

 ones are laid up, the keeper or shepherd may watch 

 for the parents' going and coming, it is hard to get a 

 shot. Mr. Colquhoun says that the old ones bring 

 food in the morning and evening, and the fox, stealing 

 along in the uncertain light, often escapes observation 

 altogether, and at the best offers but a small mark as 

 he creeps towards the den. The difficulty is to see 

 the foxes at all, so clever are they in keeping out of 

 sight. It is rather the rule than the exception for the 

 fox to escape the gun. Again, the deer forests, which 

 must be kept quiet, are refuges for foxes. Some of 

 the deer forests, says Lord Granville Gordon, are 

 ' crawling with foxes.' On one occasion the stalker 

 had hit astag hard and was surprised to find the animal 

 plodding wearily on instead of lying down. At last 

 he discovered that a fox was following him. When 

 the stag laid down for a short time the fox sat up a 

 few yards away watching him. No doubt foxes often 



