Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-01
DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE FOX.
The Mother Fox Has a Large Family
to Provide For,

to Provide For.
From the Country House. England.
Let us take a glance at the private life
Of our foxes. The vixen lays up her cubs
in early spring, in mild winters very often
in January and February. but 1 should say
that most cubs are born in March and
April. She chooses NICE quiet place to
draw her earth; often some corn field is
chosen that has been already sown, for
foxes are very clever, and soon discov sr
that a field that has been worked is not
likely to be disturbed for some time. She
selects suitable bank, and in that pro-
duces her cubs, which average, as rule
from five to seven In number. At first, Of
course, they eat nothing, but live entirely
upon their mothers milk, like puppies, but
soon they require more nourishment, and
nature prompts their fond parent to pro-
vide them with something more substan-
tial. This she does by eating small rabbits
BIRDS rats and beetles, which on arriving
nome she casts up for her family in eX-
actly the same way as dog does for her
young AS soon as they grow big enough
to come out Of the earth and play about,
the vixen removes them TO another earth
where there Is plentiful supply of water
as little foxes are thirsty little souls and
require plenty of drink One of the most
charming sights is to see family Of baby
foxes al play. The vixen is now assisted
by her spouse in providing for the family,
and they both bring in young birds, rab-
bits, etc. A fox larder is one of the most
wonderful sights 1 know of, and certainly
our friend reynard is very catholic in his
tastes, for nothing comes amss to him,
from a beetle or cockchafer to a young
lamb Rabbits also form large item in
his bill of fare, but moles and rats are the
staple food, so that it is not all damage
that our little red rover accomplishes No
doubt hungry vixen is not particular, but
one cannot blame her If she helps herself
bit too freely. for 1t is hard for her to
travel far for her young ones support
FOX stories that have happened within
my knowledge have been many and va
rlous. On one occasion a very nice litter of
CUBS were brought to the house They
were too young to do well without their
mother, and with one exception all died ;
but this little survivor was adopted by a
fomeranian dog, who at the time had
litter OF puppies. and took to her founding
quite happily. This cub grew up, and used
TO come in to dessert with the dogs, and
would sit up and smoke a pipe. They all
nved In the pantry. and were quite happy
family, living together until the cub was a
year DID, when 1t broke it's chain and
escaped. After three or four days 1t re-
turned, and from time to time used to go
and come at it's will; but, alas, one day it
never returned! l never heard of her
DEATH so We may hope she lived to a good
old age. In the Fitzwiliam country l once
saw very pretty fox that had three white
Pads' but L never saw it but once again
IN Devonshire fox used always to live on
the top of a pheasant stack in one of the
coVerts; he was always to be found there
ana IN the summer did not mind people
walking past the stack: but directly the
hunting season began, the shutting of the
gate was quite enough for our friend who
lett at once. He was hunted for several
seasons, but never caught. He was a very
beautiful fox, with great deal of white
about his throat and neck