24.0 



THE FOX 



earths, just a few months before the park wall was 

 finished, I had directed the gamekeeper to stop the 

 mouths at his usual hour of midnight; knowing, 

 that Reynard and all his family would be from 

 home in quest of plunder. 



At sunrise, we commenced the work of digging ; 

 and in the course of the day, we came upon two 

 full-grown badgers, which I kept for a few hours, 

 and then turned loose again upon the world at 

 large ; there to seek another place of residence. 



Foxes generally bring forth in early spring : — 

 but, I have known exceptions to this rule : —and 

 they produce, from four to five at one annual litter. 

 'Tis well for us, they are not so prolific as the 

 Hanoverian rat. Did they breed as fast as this 

 thief, and as many at a time, whole flocks of sheep 

 would not suffice to meet their wants. Young 

 foxes are well advanced in size by the end of June. 

 The appearance every now and then, of a lean 

 and scabby fox, may often be attributed to the 

 dangerous practice of gamekeepers placing poisoned 

 eggs, and pieces of poisoned meat, to destroy, 

 what they usually denominate running and flying 

 " varment." 



All lords of manors, and occupiers of land, 

 ought to prohibit peremptorily, this never-to-be- 

 sufficiently condemned practice of putting poisoned 



