io LETTERS TO YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



accommodation. Occasionally foxes do not occupy earths. 

 These are called " stub bred," and lie out in willow 

 beds — most uncomfortable places, unapproachable and 

 waterlogged. Some few live in hollow trees and odd 

 places, but 90 per cent, may be said to live in " earths." 

 After a night's foraging (and it is a great mistake to 

 think that foxes are always after farmers' chickens ; they 

 live largely on vermin, rats, hedgehogs, and so on) the fox 

 returns to his " earth " to sleep off his heavy meal. It is 

 pretty clear, therefore, as we go hunting in the daytime, 

 that unless something is done, all the foxes will be under- 

 ground and unget-at-able. Therefore, notice is given to keepers 

 and professional earth-stoppers that on a certain day such and 

 such area will be hunted, and they, after the fox has quitted 

 the earth and before he has had time to return, block up the 

 entrance to the hole. This is called " putting to." Finding 

 his ingress is barred, the fox will " lie out " in the coverts, 



COILED UP AND ASLEEP. 



that is, coil up somewhere and go to sleep. Let us leave 

 him there and say a word on hounds. 



You will wonder, perhaps, why so many hounds are 

 required to hunt a fox. Hounds hunt by scent almost 

 entirely. Of course, they will run in view till they lose 

 sight of the fox, when they drop their noses and hunt by 



