THE FOX IN SUMMER 135 



poor Reynard in the meantime is a matter of which 

 they are profoundly ignorant and which appears to 

 concern them not at all. 



Fortunately for the fox — fortunately for the noble 

 sport — there are sportsmen in every country who are 

 of a different kidney to the above. These are the 

 residents ; the poor country mice, whose quiet homes, 

 "embowered by trees and hardly known to fame," 

 are situated among the green pastures across which 

 we ride with such rapture in the winter, and upon 

 these men devolves in great measure the care and 

 protection of the fox haunts and the inhabitants 

 thereof during the off season. In his morning or 

 evening ramble the country sportsman, an he be a 

 true man, will note the weak place in the covert 

 fence and see that it be repaired against trespass. 

 To him w^ill be brought early news of the litters in 

 his neighbourhood, which he will protect with a 

 fatherly care, and whose progress, education, and 

 amusements will afford him much interest and 

 pleasant recreation. 



Although an amnesty has been now proclaimed 

 between the foxhound and his hereditary foe, poor 

 Reynard has other and more deadly enemies to con- 

 tend against, and from whom he requires protection. 

 He has an evil reputation, and that lying jade Rumour 

 has made it a thousand times worse than it ought 

 to be. 



" The fox took my lambs last night," said a wrathful 

 agriculturist not long ago. 



" How do you know it was the fox ? " I mildly 

 inquired. 



