393 



Foxes and Game. 



from his attention. Whilst laying, however, the protec- 

 tion Nature accords is too feeble, if it exist at all, and the 

 fox will then wind the game-bird, and, if possible, 

 capture, carry off, and consume it. The necessity of 

 locating all nests at the earliest possible moment is again 

 brought home to the gamekeeper, and it is very necessary 

 that steps should be taken to prevent injury to the 

 nesting-bird. As regards partridge nests I have already 

 mentioned one means of doing this. Another is to protect 

 them by the practice usually known as " dressing " them. 

 This consists in placing some pieces of sacking or other 

 suitable material, which have been saturated with some 

 substance possessing an odour offensive to foxes, and 

 which they will not approach, in the neighbourhood and 

 around the nests. 



The best mixture for the purpose we have in view is 

 composed of oil of burnt hartshorn (oleum cornu cervi) 

 and creosote in equal parts. Cut some strips of sacking 

 about pin. by 2in., and soak them thoroughly in the 

 mixture. Then, by means of twine previously attached 

 to them, tie them securely to any bushes, &c., or to stakes 

 set up in the ground at alternately ift. and 4ft. height 

 from the surface, so as to form a fringe round the nest 

 at about 2yds. radius from it. It does not trouble 

 the nesting-bird, and no fox, dog, or cat will penetrate 

 the circle of odour. According to the weather the mal- 

 odorous stuff maintains its efficiency from ten days to a 

 fortnight, and then requires renewing. 



Similar material may be employed under like conditions 

 for the protection of coops from foxes ; but I am not pre- 

 disposed in its favour for this purpose, although in the 

 case of widely-separated ones, such as is found necessary 

 with hand-reared partridges, there is more to be said in 

 its favour. 



