FOXES AND FOX-FARMING = 227 
dence. This is not easy, and a great deal de- 
pends upon the personality of the man in 
charge. One not thoroughly interested or not 
naturally fond of animals, and therefore slow 
to understand their ways, is not likely to suc- 
ceed. Careful observation and a faculty of 
intuition enables a good keeper to anticipate 
the moods of the animals, and to interpret their 
actions at critical times, so as to act quickly 
and without violence. He knows just when the 
foxes are getting too much food, just when the 
sexes should be brought together or separated, 
when the female becomes pregnant, when the 
young should be born, when they need special 
attention, and when they may safely be left to 
the exclusive care of the mother. He is not 
over-inquisitive as to the number of young that 
are born, and seldom needs to disturb the anx- 
ious parent, relying on her actions to show 
whether the little ones are thriving. 
BREEDING FOR IMPROVED STOCK. 
Hope for increased profits in fox-raising lies 
almost entirely in improving the stock, and 
successively getting better and blacker coats, by 
