62 THE LIFE OF A FOX.

strong. odour peculiar to the fox. My mother
has never been let loose by the consent of her
keepers, even in the inn-yard, but having once
got loose by accident, when about two years old,
she ran away a long distance, and being followed
into a yard was there secured again. It was
observed when running that she carried her tail
level as I do, like a fox; sometimes it was
crooked, but never upright. It was not so much
curled as mine is.

I lived with my mother, and when I was two
years old, a master of fox-hounds happening to
hear of us, came to see us; and after making
many inquiries, persuaded my owner to let him
take me away with him. I was then placed under
the care of the old feeder of hounds, with orders
that I should be allowed to run about in the
house, with his children for companions. I was
shown to every one as a curious animal, and be-
came a great favourite; but all attempts to tame
me failed, and I never would let a stranger touch
me. My master took me out with his dogs when

he went to shoot rabbits, but found. me wholly