ORDER OF CARNIVORA. 
393 
to retracing the course he 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. The 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. { 
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 open 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 en- 
during, plucky animals of our central counties. — Ed. 
f The Continental method of Fox-hunting. — Ed. 
X No sportsman in England, it is hoped, would be guilty of shooting a Fox. — E d. 
