Foxes Defending Young

On the 2nd of July, when walking towards the top of Owenreagh Brae, the time being four o’clock in the afternoon, the weather warm and dry, I turned about to view the scenery for a few moments and was startled by hearing behind me an ear-piercing chorus of discordant sounds. On looking around for the cause I found myself confronted—scarcely four perches away—by two nimble-looking Foxes. Their attitude at the moment was one of unmistakable hostility, and it was evident they intended to frighten me off. However, they showed that they thoroughly appreciated the position of affairs, when they saw me making a move in their direction, by quickly beating the air with their brushes; afterwards they plunged headlong down a neighbouring earthen fence. They took refuge in a patch of furze convenient, from which I quickly dislodged them with a volley of of stones. As a young Fox had been observed in the vicinity recently, I concluded that the appearance of the parents at that unusual time of day was caused by anxiety for its safety.—“G. B. M’Keown” (Draperstown).