COMMON FOX. 79 



to ten young ; the cubs are covered with soft yellow 

 downy wool, and are charming to look at ; their antics 

 and gambols are also interesting. The young Foxes have 

 sometimes been suckled by a dog. 



The Fox burrows about 6 feet deep in the earth ; 

 sometimes its home is made in the inaccessible side 

 of a chalk-pit, or even of a sea-cliff ; it sometimes takes 

 possession of badger-earths, and has even been known 

 to live in the same burrow with rabbits, its natural prey. 



The Fox sometimes becomes to a certain extent tame ; 

 it will then enter gardens, etc., and only quit them 

 on some one approaching. When taken in spring-traps, 

 it will eat off its paw, if unable to escape otherwise. 

 However, it is a sagacious animal, and not easily captured. 

 It is said not to like the smell of old iron placed near 

 plantations. 



The Fox is at times subject to mange, and also to 

 hydrophobia. A noble recently died from the bite of a 

 tame Fox. The Fox will sometimes swim. 



Foxes are occasionally poisoned, but farmers, as a 

 rule, are generally accessible to the great liberality with 

 which their claims for compensation, whether for 

 destruction of poultry or damage to crops or fences, are 

 met by masters of hounds ; on the other hand, they have 

 sometimes just grounds for their complaints by the 

 heedless way in which their crops are ridden over. 



In Scotland and North Devon, where, on account of 

 the ruggedness of the country, hunting is not prac- 

 ticable, Foxes are often shot. This is also the case in 

 North Wales, the Cheviots, etc. 



Fox-skins from North Wales and Scotland are larger 

 and finer than those from other parts of Great Britain. 

 From North Wales the skins are generally stuffed 

 with straw. As before said, but few pelts are saved 



