OEDEE OF CAENIVOEA. 393 



to retracing the course lie has pursued time after time, till the 

 voracious pack overtake him and tear him in pieces.* 



Old stagers, however, are sometimes found who disconcert all 

 pursuit by fleeing to places inaccessible to hounds and hunts- 

 men. It is the business of the huntsman to know these localities, 

 and to prevent the game from entering them. This is done in 

 France by placing a piece of cord across the approach to the 

 sanctum, garnished with feathers or scraps of bright-coloured 

 cloth. Th.e Fox seeing this object suspects a snare, and doubles 

 back; and probably perishes through this excess of prudence, f 



Destroying them with fire-arms is much more easy. A certain 

 number of sportsmen occupy the paths of a wood which is 

 known to contain Foxes. The vermin, started by some cur 

 Dogs, take to their runs, thus offering an easy shot ; if they 

 escape, the sportsmen have usually only their own unskilfulness to 

 blame. J 



When the Fox runs to earth, and obstinately refuses to be 

 unkennelled Terriers are often successfully employed, which, 

 crawling into the lair, drive the possessor out. 



Sometimes Reynard resists all attempts to expel him. There is 

 nothing then to be done but to smoke him out, or to lay ojoen his 

 retreat with the pickaxe. The first operation, being the simplest, 

 is generally preferred. All the openings of the burrow are closed, 

 except that to windward ; into this is introduced, as deeply as 

 possible, a sulphur match ; bushes and leaves are collected in front 

 of the hole, and set on fire. The smoke, blown by the wind, 

 penetrates to the bottom of the burrow, carrying with it the 

 sulphurous vapours. The subterranean cavity being completely 

 pregnated, the smoke returns against the wind ; the last opening 

 is then hermetically closed, and things are left in this state until 

 the next day, when the Fox is sure to be found dead near one of 

 the orifices. 



When Foxes overrun a country more energetic measures are 



had recourse to in order to destroy them : viz. by traps and poison. 



We have seen, by the history of the Chateau-Thierry Fox, that 



this Carnivore is susceptible of being tamed. It is nevertheless 



* This description is evidently intended for the French Fox, not for the eu- 

 durin", plucky animals of our central counties. — Ed. 

 t The Continental method of Fox-hunting. — Ed. 

 + No sportsman in England, it is hoped, would be guilty of shooting a Fox. — Ed. 



