12 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



do not deserve compensation. I have never yet 

 lost a single head of poultry by foxes, notwith- 

 standing the fact that the foxes cross the field in 

 which my poultry are kept in order to avail them- 

 selves of the bridge which connects the two sides 

 of the village. At times they presume to come 

 under the windows of my house, as their tracks 

 in the snow have testified. It is unnecessary for 

 me to add that I take the precaution of having 

 my poultry safely housed at night. 



A few years ago I happened to be on a visit to 

 a relation who was, at the time, master of one of 

 the North-Country packs of foxhounds. The cub- 

 bing season was nearly over, and although an 

 unusual number of foxes had been accounted for, 

 there still remained far too many for sport, the 

 breeding season having been exceptionally favour- 

 able. One morning, after two cubs had been 

 broken up, and the hounds were drawing another 

 covert, an old dog - hound was observed self- 

 hunting in the distance, and close on to a fox 

 which he ran into and rolled over single-handed 

 in the most masterly style, just in time to prevent 

 his entering the covert. Not wishing to give 

 any more foxes to the hounds that morning, the 

 master gave orders for this one to be kept intact, 

 declaring his intention of having it stuffed, and a 

 place reserved in the case for the head of the 

 hound when it died. That evening, when the 

 fox was brought to the house, the master was 

 enjoying the comforts of an armchair after the 



