Quadrupeds. 7101 



vent their getting away, and thus they are kept in a fresh state for a 

 long time for their merciless captor's supply. Yet how, it may be 

 asked, could the polecat catch this nimble kind of food ? Such, how- 

 ever, is the case. 



Close at hand here an old vixen and a litter of five cubs had taken 

 np their quarters in an old broomy bank containing a great number of 

 rabbits, which might have been seen running about in every direction 

 close to where the young foxes were accustomed to come forth with the 

 old vixen to enjoy the warm sun and "to recreate themselves," as is said 

 of other animals in one of the fine old glees sung at the glee clubs in 

 former days. Wishing to ascertain if foxes would feed on fish, I thought 

 this a good opportunity to try the experiment; although, the spot 

 being close to a small stream where very shortly before three otters 

 had made their appearance (one of which had, however, been caught by 

 a pack of otter-hounds invited for that special purpose), I had some 

 doubts whether the otters might not claim some share of the fish : I 

 nevertheless determined to put down a brace of very large carp, 

 weighing from fourteen to fifteen pounds each, and which I had found 

 in a very forward and decomposed state in one of the adjacent pools. 

 These two far-gone fish very vividly recalled to the mind the attributes 

 of Caliban, who bore about him " a very ancient and fish-like smell," 

 but hardly equal to that of the two carp. Thinking this might perhaps 

 prove attractive to the young foxes, I desired the two fish might be 

 carried to the bottom of the bank and placed in a conspicuous place, 

 where, without disturbing the foxes, their method of proceeding might 

 be observed. At first no attention seemed to be paid to these high- 

 flavored temptations; but I should mention that, it being just at the 

 time when rook shooting was going on, the young foxes in consequence 

 obtained a large supply of old rooks, some killed by accident and 

 some purposely, but which were too old and tough to be converted, 

 like their progeny, into pigeon-pies, and were further aided by the ad- 

 dition of all the old rabbits which the keeper took in his traps and 

 snares during the night. Whatever might have been the cause, 

 whether the wind (for it was then very hot weather) was not quite in 

 the right quarter to attract the young foxes to this savory meal, certain 

 it is that the two fine carp remained for the first night and day within 

 sight untouched and unnoticed; but on the second night a very dif- 

 ferent result took place, and, if 1 remember correctly, it was on a 

 Friday, which might have had something to do with the change which 

 so suddenly took place, for on this same Friday the two fish disap- 

 peared, a few of the bones and scales being all that was left to show 



