48o CANNIBALISM. 



swallowed by the infuriated pack ; whilst the interfering huntsman, 

 with his long whip, lashing the hounds on all sides, is barely enabled 

 to save the drabbled brush. This carcass of the worried fox is un- 

 natural food for them. It has been procured by ungovernable 

 excitement, which has so blinded them that they have not discrimi- 

 nated the loathful remains of a disgusting fox from the ordinary food 

 which they daily receive from the hands of the huntsman whilst they 

 are in the kennel. Now, nature has had nothing to do with the repast 

 If the captured fox could have been rescued from the mouths of its 

 devourers, and offered to them when it had become cold, and their 

 own fury had subsided, not a dog in all the pack would have touched 

 it. Congenial instinct, no longer vitiated by the recent excitement 

 of the chase, would cause the dogs to reject the unusual and dis- 

 gusting food. But had the carcass of a sheep been thrown into the 

 kennel it would have been consumed immediately, because the dog 

 and the sheep form two distinct species of animals no way connected 

 with each other. 



The excitement caused in the chase will be fatal to an affection 

 which is sometimes known to exist betwixt the dog and the fox. We 

 had an instance of this in the days of my father, who had been a 

 noted fox-hunter in early life. In the kennel of a neighbouring 

 baronet there was a tame fox, and my father used to be much 

 amused in observing the uncommon familiarity which existed be- 

 wixt it and the hounds. These would play with it, and it with them, 

 in all manner of postures. When a good run was wanted, a whipper- 

 in would take the social fox and place it on a pad, so contrived at 

 the horse's crupper, that there was no danger of his slipping from it. 

 The man would then leave the kennel, and after having ridden to a 

 certain distance from it, he would get off horseback and place the 

 tame fox on the ground. Then, remounting his horse, he would 

 canter away through localities best suited to produce an excellent 

 day's sport ; the fox keeping up with him as though it were a 

 favourite terrier. When the hounds, in full cry, had advanced 

 sufficiently near to put the man upon his guard, he would dismount, 

 and having placed the fox in its former situation, he would get on 

 horseback again and gallop away. This caused the scent to cease, 

 and the chase was no longer pursued. 



