· 160'

FIG. 13.—Plan for rectangular yards in series; dens with occupant of the next

yards.

yard until its frantic

FIG. 14.-Plan for square detached yards; dens and doors in alleys.

struggles to escape resulted in a badly mangled leg. Such accidents can be avoided by making double-walled partitions, the walls separated by at least 4 inches, or single-walled partitions of 1-inch netting or of boards. The necessity of erecting double partitions is overcome, however, by use of the plan illustrated in figure 14.

The height of a fence depends somewhat upon the depth of the snowfall. In Maine and the Maritime Provinces the usual height is 9 or 10 feet, while in Laborador it is 12 feet.

To prevent foxes from digging out, the fence is either extended into the ground (fig. 17) or

11

FIG. 15.-Sections of yard and guard fences, with frame supports. The yard fence, a, has a foundation of creosoted planks. The guard fence, b, rests on stones and has a mat to prevent foxes from digging out, and an outward overhang to keep out dogs and other intruders.

turned abruptly inward at the surface (fig. 18) to form a mat 3 feet wide, the inner edge of which is pinned firmly to the ground and usually covered with earth or stone. A fence extended into the ground must reach a depth of 4 or 5 feet if the soil is soft, and be turned inward a foot at the bottom. If there is a subsoil of clay or hardpan, the fence need not enter it more than 6 inches. Instead of netting, the underground part of a fence may be made of 2-inch creosoted planks. As foxes climb wire fences readily an inward overhang about 18 inches wide should be placed at the top to prevent escape (figs. 15-20). When a fox has scrambled up to an overhang,

its only means of descending is by falling. Sometimes valuable animals have been seriously injured in this way. To prevent accidents of this kind an intermediate overhang is sometimes constructed 5 feet from the ground, as shown in figure 16, or a smooth zone of boards or sheet iron is inserted in the upper half of the fence, as shown in figure 20.

The yards for sequestering males are usually adjacent to the main yards, with which they are connected by a chute having a sliding door (fig. 21), though sometimes they are separated from the family

+18

18"

1818

yards. It is advisable to have them roomy, as indicated in figures 13 and 14, in order to give the animals enough runway to make them vigorous during exile. When allowed to be together the pair may have the run of both yards. Although quarters for constant occupancy should be roomy, those for temporary use, such as are required by dealers and ranchmen for isolating sick or newly arrived animals, may be comparatively small. Temporary pens are often not more than 6 by 10 feet on the ground and 4 or 5 feet high. They are made with netting on top, bottom, and sides, stretched over a frame of scantlings. The posts do not enter the ground, but rest upon sills, to which they are securely nailed. By means of braces the frame can be made rigid, and when covered with netting is strong enough to be moved without weakening. The cheapness, security, and portability of these pens make them a very useful adjunct. Foxes have bred and reared young in temporary pens that were only 12 by 15 feet, but such narrow quarters are not recommended for permanent use.

a

b

FIG. 16.-Iron posts and concrete foundations for yard

fence, a, and guard fence, b. Note the 18-inch over

hangs, two on the yard fence, one of which (5 feet from the ground) is to prevent foxes from climbing to

the top and the resulting injury from the greater fall.

When alleys are used between pens, as shown in figure 14, it is well to have them closed at the outer ends to facilitate the return of escaped animals and provided with overhangs.

Entrance to the yards should be by way of these alleys.

Doors may be made entirely of wood, or of netting attached to a durable frame which can not be gnawed by a fox or warped (fig. 19). If they are divided into upper and lower sections of equal size, much of the labor of clearing paths when snow is deep can be eliminated by leaving the lower half of each door closed.

GUARD FENCES.

The guard fence surrounding a fox ranch is generally constructed like the yard fences already described. Where snow drifts badly the fence should be built of boards rather than netting, in

order to keep the snow from piling up in the FIG. 17.-Fence extendyards. In addition to the usual inward over- ing into the ground. hang, it should have an outward overhang of barbed wire to keep out dogs and other intruders (fig. 15).

FOOD.

The natural food habits of foxes are similar to those of dogs. Birds, mice, rabbits, and other animals are eaten, as well as grass

hoppers, crickets, and other insects, eggs, and

many kinds of berries. In short, the animals are practically omnivorous.

The rations of domesticated foxes include beef, horse meat, mutton, veal, woodchucks, rabbits, liver, fish, eggs, milk, bread, mashed potatoes, crackers, mush, dog biscuit, boiled turnips and carrots, and fresh fruits. The selection of meats is largely a matter of circumstances. At irregular and uncertain intervals one may obtain injured or worn-out but otherwise healthy horses, or old sheep that can not be fattened for mutton, and these, when slaughtered, make good and inward at surface of cheap meat. Woodchucks and rabbits, freshly ground to form a mat. killed, are always welcome in a fox yard. When cheap meats fail, beef and poultry are used.

Fortunately, foxes do not need meat every day. Some keepers feed it but two or three times a week. Young foxes are not allowed

meat until they are four months old, as it is likely to cause rickets. Meat intended for a brood vixen may be fastened to the top of a table out of the reach of her cubs.

FIG. 19.-Details of entrance, mat, and overhang of a fox yard.

Milk, with some sort of bread or cooked mush, is the standard food for old and young. Foxes, which are fed twice a day, usually have meat in the morning and bread or mush and milk at night. In summer the proportion of meat is less than in winter. When smelts or trout can be had they are frequently substituted, but fish is not con