250 FOXES V. GAME. [PART II. 



one good run than carry a gun at ten of the best 

 battues that the country can afford enemies to 

 those, who, preferring shooting to hunting, pre- 

 serve game to the exclusion of foxes. And I will 

 do so without reserve, because I think it is due 

 to those gentlemen (and there are many) who, 

 although they preserve game and do not hunt, 

 yet preserve foxes simply for the amusement of 

 their friends, that an ample acknowledgment 

 should be made to them for their kindness, and 

 that no attempt should be made to blink or de- 

 preciate the sacrifice which they are thus liberal 

 enough to make for the benefit of others. 



I believe the Fox to be about the most in- 

 discriminate of our carnivorous animals, nothing 

 from a hare to a mouse coming amiss to him ; 

 and that the different descriptions of game suffer 

 more or less from his attacks, only just in pro- 

 portion as they are more or less accessible to 

 him. For that reason I believe that hares suffer 

 most, and next to them partridges. Foxes have 

 been said to be so fond of rabbits that they will 

 touch nothing else if they can get a sufficient 

 supply of them. Doubtless they are very fond 

 of them, but the young rabbits are protected by 

 being snugly under ground, whilst the unfortu- 



