11 



of cross pieces on the poj^ts. This is essential, for foxes are f^ood 

 climbers, and in winter snow often greatly reduces the distance to 

 the top of the fence. The arrangement of subdivisions will neces- 

 sarily depend somewhat upon circumstances, but the general plan 

 should in most cases conform to that shown in the accompanying 

 diagram (fig. 5). Here a wide outer court is provided, separating 

 the smaller inclosures in which the foxes are actually kept from the 

 unfenced area possibly open to the public. The court shown in the dia- 

 gram is only 40 feet wide, but it might well be much wider, since its 

 object is not so much to give additional security as to prevent curious 

 visitors or stray domestic animals from annoying the foxes. As the 

 foxes may be annoyed merely by seeing persons or animals at a dis- 

 tance, it is best to 

 have a wide outer 

 court, containing, 

 if possible, bushes 

 and trees. This 

 outer court may be 

 kept locked and 

 the inner inclo- 

 sures visited only 

 by regular keepers, 

 to whom the foxes 

 are accustomed. If 

 the locality be suffi- 

 ciently quiet the 

 outer court may be 

 narrow or, in some 

 cases no doubt it 

 may safely be omit- 

 ted, but the impor- 

 tance of prevent- 

 ing annoyance of the animals can scarcely be overestimated. Often 

 the inclosures may be situated within a fenced pasture. Other means 

 for obtaining seclusion also may be employed, as the training of 

 hedges or the building of solid board fences about 6 feet high im- 

 mediately outside the wire fences. 



The inner inclosures are of two kinds, most of them small and de- 

 signed for single animals or pairs, but one or more are somcAvhat 

 larger and intended to accommodate a number of foxes at one time. 

 Every compartment should be provided with doors so arranged that 

 animals ma}^ be transferred readily. The beginner with only one pair 

 of foxes may start with two of the small compartments and gradually 

 add others as needed, meanwhile keeping in mind some general plan 

 insuring a systematic and convenient w^hole. The small compart - 



328 



Fig. 4. 



-Corner of fox yard showing 

 by digging. 



stones to prevent escape 



