FOX-HUNTING. 57 



Many foxes are hunted to the death with dogs in the penin- 

 sula. The sportsman, however, does not, as with us, follow 

 the dogs on horseback the style of fence and broken nature 

 of the ground effectually preventing one from riding across 

 the country but on foot. Several individuals, each armed 

 with a gun, usually take part in these hunts, which to a man 

 of active habits, and with a good knowledge of the ground, 

 are very exciting. The fox is in many instances shot, but 

 it more generally happens, that when he finds himself 

 hard pressed, he takes refuge in his earth, or some other 

 out-of-the-way place, where the difficulty of dislodging him is 

 considerable. 



On these occasions, the dogs are at times endangered. 

 We are informed by M. Wijkstrom, for instance : that " at 

 a fox-chase near to Donafors Bruk, in the province of Nerike, 

 it happened that Michel sought shelter in the cleft of a rock, 

 where he was followed by the dogs, who all, with one excep- 

 tion, fortunately succeeded, when called off, in making good 

 their retreat. But this one, from its superior size, and the 

 confined and crooked nature of the aperture, was unable 

 either to turn himself, or to back out. His growls and barking 

 as he fought with the fox were distinctly heard ; but as for 

 two or three days afterwards all was quiet, it was imagined 

 the dog had perished. Nevertheless, after the lapse of three 

 days and a half, the fox was found torn and dead on the 

 outside of the aperture, and it was therefore surmised that 

 the dog survived. This proved to be the fact ; for though 

 dreadfully emaciated, and badly wounded over nearly the 

 whole of his body, one side of which was entirely stript of 

 hair, he contrived to crawl home. By prudent management, 

 however, and by feeding sparingly at first, he recovered 



