THE ART ITSELF 153 



in October, do not forget your future sport in 

 November. I know that many well-known 

 authorities will not agree with me ; but I consider 

 that you ought never to kill a fox in any except 

 very large and strong coverts. Those places which 

 command your best country ought to be treated 

 with the very greatest care. I would never stop 

 cubs from going away, but would always rather 

 trust to catching one in the open. If there is 

 a drain not far away which your earth-stopper 

 knows they have been using during the summer, 

 it is a good plan to have it unstopped, and then 

 you will be pretty certain of running one to 

 ground, when by the aid of a terrier or a spade 

 you will be able to accomplish your object. Of 

 course, with large woodlands well stocked with 

 foxes you will have no need to resort to any of 

 these devices, and may kill them wherever you 

 get the chance. It is better to visit every litter 

 twice before the regular season commences, and 

 do not scruple to exact heavy toll if there are 

 plenty of them ; but if you find only old foxes, 

 leave at once and do not go there again until 

 November. When foxes are too plentiful in a 

 certain district and you wish to reduce their 



