52 HUNTING 



foxes, to which a man may subscribe his one or two 

 guineas. There is in some hunts also an entire horse 

 fund, to which we have already alluded, supported by 

 similar subscriptions. Further, in countries where wire 

 is a predominant feature, there is a wire fund to defray 

 the expenses of the farmer for taking down the wire 

 at the beginning, and putting it up again at the end 

 of the season, also supported by similar subscriptions. 

 So the modest or impecunious man who only hunts 

 four or five days during the season need not be afraid 

 that small donations will not be thankfully received 

 and graciously acknowledged. Probably, after a non- 

 subscriber to the hunt has been out three or four days, 

 the secretary will suggest a subscription to one of these 

 minor funds ; but we strongly advise the non-subscriber 

 not to wait for the suggestion. If a man is invited to 

 a day's shooting, he does not wait till his host's keeper 

 asks him for the usual tip. We firmly believe that all 

 true sportsmen, whatever may be their favourite sport, 

 are generous, though they may be doubtful about the 

 form which their generosity should take ; therefore we 

 deem any apology superfluous on our part for entering 

 into these financial details. 



There are no definite rules which regulate hunting in 

 the same way as there are rules which regulate racing, 

 yet there are certain unwritten laws. The man who 

 in a hunting country shoots or traps a fox purposely 

 must make up his mind to be boycotted socially for the 

 rest of his life. " Vulpecide is more criminal than 

 manslaughter," is a common aphorism amongst hunting 

 men. Certainly a man who deliberately destroys the 

 sport of his neighbours deserves the severest censure. 

 "We do not dispute for one moment that every man has 

 a right to his own convictions, one of which may be a 



