THE FOX 



141 



hereinafter recorded. I have the greatest respect 

 and admiration for the observations made by Mr. 

 Bamford, as I have known him for a number of 

 years as a most astute and careful recorder of 

 animal life. At my request he has been good 

 enough to afford me much information about 

 Reynard unobtainable through any other source, 

 and it is only courteous thus early to acknowledge 

 his invaluable assistance. 



The period of gestation of the Fox is, roughly 

 speaking, eight weeks. Cubs may be expected 

 any time between February 15 and March 15, 

 although I have known two instances of cubs 

 being born as early as the first week in January. 

 This may, however, be considered exceptionally 

 early, and a friend of mine once dug out a vixen 

 with a litter of five cubs not more than two or 

 three days old as late as April 17. The majority 

 of cubs, no doubt, arrive during March. 



Litters of five and six are the usual number, 

 although I have known as many as nine in one lot 

 and as few as three in several others. They, like 

 nearly all carnivorous animals, are born blind 

 and remain so for about eight days. The vixen 

 is a very poor navvy, and, this being so, has to 

 depend to a great extent upon the exertions of the 

 Badger and the Rabbit for the making of a home 

 for herself and family. She never starts an 

 ^' earth " on her own account, no matter how easy 



