18 



den than the kennels, bnt it is doubtful if they are superior. No 

 nesting material is needed inside the boxes, as the old foxes either 

 do without or provide themselves from refuse in their inclosure. 



FOOD. 



Wild foxes eat a great variety of food, including mice, rabbits, 

 birds, and insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles. At 

 certain seasons large quantities of berries are eaten. Meat, therefore, 

 is only part of their natural diet. Many fox breeders, failing to 

 recognize this fact, have fed meat largely or exclusively. Although 

 this is not always followed by bad results, it is much better to supply 

 the foxes with a mixed diet, including, besides meat, such food as 

 bread, milk, table scraps, or manufactured dog biscuits, all of which 

 are relished. Indeed, foxes, like dogs, are almost omnivorous, and 

 there is less danger in any particular kind of food than in too large 

 quantities at irregular intervals. Overfeeding is a very common 

 trouble and pro- 

 duces fat, sluggish 

 animals that do 

 not breed well. 

 The normal weight 

 of a healthy fox 

 is from 6 to 9 

 pounds ; so ani- 

 mals weighing 



more than 10 - 



pounds are too fat. 

 When excessively 

 fat they may weigh 

 as much as 16 pounds. Overfat animals are sometimes produced by 

 keeping a number in one inclosure, making it possible for the boldest 

 or tamest to get more than his share of food. 



It is always to be remembered that foxes in confinement require 

 as much care as other animals. But it is a strange fact that the ex- 

 perienced stock raiser, who knows full well what disastrous results 

 follow when his horses or cattle get free access to the grain bin, will 

 unhesitatingly throw a w^hole carcass to his foxes and let them gorge. 

 Since this does not kill them at once, or make them visibly sick, and 

 since they are supposed to feed in this way in the wild state, he sees 

 nothing wrong in it, especially as it saves the trouble of daily attend- 

 ance. If for no other reason, a regular daily ration is preferable 

 to irregular feeding because it necessitates a more constant and inti- 

 mate relation between the keeper and his charge. It is a good plan, 

 however, to give them bones with little meat on them now and then, 

 upon which they may gnaw indefinitely. Occasionally they may be 



328 



Fig. 



Box shelter for female and young. 



