Wet weather is often a benefit to the fox. Like all accomplished night
thieves he is more venturesome in attacking hand-reared birds when the
wind howls and rain beats heavily down. The storm drowns what little
noise there may be from his stealthy feet; and the scent of the birds
is stronger by reason of their steaming bodies. In wet autumns foxes
take their heaviest toll of the young birds that have grown to a fair
size--the dripping trees incline the birds to sleep on the ground long
after they are able to fly, and should be flying nightly to roost.
Grave risks are run by birds that sit on their nests through wet June
nights.
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