THE LIFE OF A FOX, 7

with agony, he drew her backwards to the open-
ing, where she let him go. It was in vain that
the man tried to make him go in again, and so he
left the place, declaring his conviction that there
were cubs within, and that he would have them
out another day. He was, however, disappointed,
for our mother that night took us one by one to a
large earth in a neighbouring wood. We were now
two months old, and ceased to draw our mother’s
milk, which we no longer needed, as we were able
to kill a rabbit or pluck the feathers of a fowl,
when she brought it to us, as well as she, _ Some
of these feathers, which in our frolics we had
carried to the mouth of the earth, once betrayed
us to a couple of poachers, who had been lurking

breeding places should be on the surface, and covered over with
earth, so as to form a mound. |

The places for breeding should be formed jn @ circle, in
order that they may be more easily arched, like an oven, with-
out having wood supports. |

The passages should be floored with bricks or flints, to pre- °
vent rabbits from digging.

It is desirable to have the low passages not more than seven
inches high, to exclude dogs. Four-inch work at the sides is
sufficient, except for a foot or two at the entrance.

B 4