BUFFON ON FOXES 57 



Meynell, Corbet, Forester, and Warde with those of the 

 present period, we should most assuredly come to the 

 conclusion that the foxes are by no means as stout ; 

 but then it must be remembered the speed and 

 condition of hounds have greatly improved. The 

 greater proportion of foxes which we now have are 

 those which are bred in moderate-sized and small 

 coverts, and, as I have before observed, they are not 

 either so wild or stout as those which are bred in 

 mountainous districts and large tracts of woodland. 

 When found in such places as the former, unless the 

 underwood is very strong they are generally obliged to 

 quit. With a fair start and a holding scent, the chances 

 would be in favour of the hounds killing their fox ; but 

 it frequently happens that a numerous jealous! conclave 

 of hard riders exert their utmost energies in the pre- 

 servation of the vulpine tribe. Collectively they will 

 ride so close to the pack as to prevent the hounds 

 hunting from want of room, and will not unfrequently 

 absolutely ride between the hounds and the object of 

 their chase, as if desirous of destroying the scent by 

 every available means. Although collectively they do 

 this, every man individually censures such proceedings. 



The knowledge of country which these foxes acquire 

 arises principally from their being hunted. Their 

 preservation has, undoubtedly, become the general 

 rule, and their destruction by unfair means is happily 

 the exception. It is proved that they do not commit 

 those depredations among game which at one time they 

 were supposed to do. Peradventure, like the human 

 race, they are more civilised ; for they do not levy the 

 contributions on the lambs of which they were accused 

 in former days, most frequently very unjustly. 



Buffon gives us some curious remarks on the habits of 

 the fox, the correctness of which I will not presume to 

 dispute; but the animal has mended his manners con- 

 siderably since the time when the great naturalist made 

 his observations. Moreover, they were French foxes 

 concerning which he made his remarks : our English 



