FURZE-COVERS USEFUL 259 



Indeed, I believe most gentlemen are; and it may be 

 easy to retaliate on such as are not. I am told, that 

 in some hunts it is the constant employment of one 

 person to watch the earths at the breeding time, 

 to prevent the cubs from being stolen. Furze- 

 covers cannot be too much encouraged, for that 

 reason ; for there they are safe. They have also 

 other advantages attending them : they are certain 

 places to find in : foxes cannot break from them 

 unseen ; nor are you so liable to change as in other 

 covers. 1 



Acquainted as I am with your sentiments, it would 

 be needless to desire you to be cautious how you buy 

 foxes. The price that some men pay for them, might 

 well encourage the robbing of every hunt in the king- 

 dom, their own not excepted. But you despise the 

 soi-disant gentleman who receives them, more than 

 the poor thief who takes them. Some gentlemen ask 

 no questions, and flatter themselves they have found 

 out that convenient mezzo termino for the easy accom- 

 modation of their consciences. 



With respect to the digging of foxes that you run 

 to ground — what I myself have observed in that busi- 

 ness, I will endeavour to recollect. My people usually, 

 I think, follow the hole, except when the earth is large, 



1 A fox, when pressed by hounds, will seldom go into a. furze -brake. 

 Rabbits, which are the fox's favourite food, may also be encouraged there, 

 and yet do little damage. Were they suffered to establish themselves in 

 your woods, it would be difficult to destroy them afterwards. Thus far I 

 object to them, as a farmer : I object to them also, as a fox-hunter ; 

 since nothing is more prejudicial to the breeding of foxes, than disturbing 

 your woods late in the season, to destroy the rabbits. 



