144 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



encourage the robbing of neighbouring hunts : in which case, without 

 doubt, the receiver is as bad as the thief. It is the interest of every fox- 

 hunter to be cautious how he behaves in this particular. Indeed, I believe 

 most gentlemen are; and it may be easy to retaliate on such as are not. 

 I am told, that in some hunts it is the constant employment of one person 

 to watch the earths at the breeding time, to prevent the cubs from being 

 stolen. Furze-covers cannot be too much encouraged, for that reason ; 

 for there they are safe. They have also other advantages attending them : 

 they are certain places to find hi : foxes cannot break from them unseen ; 

 nor are you so liable to change as in other covers. 1 



Acquainted as I am with your sentiments, it would be needless to 

 desire you to be cautious how you buy foxes. The price that some men 

 pay for them, might well encourage the robbing of every hunt in the king- 

 dom, their own not excepted. But you despise the soi-disant gentleman 

 who receives them, more than the poor thief who takes them. Some 

 gentlemen ask no questions, and flatter themselves they have found out 

 that convenient mezzo termino 2 for the easy accommodation of their con- 

 sciences. 



With respect to the digging of foxes that you run to ground what I 

 myself have observed in that business, I will endeavour to recollect. My 

 people usually, I think, follow the hole, except when the earth is large, 

 and the terriers have fixed the fox in an angle of it ; for they then find 

 it a more expeditious method to sink a pit as near to him as they can. 

 You should always keep a terrier in at the fox ; for, if you do not, he not 

 only may move, but also, in loose ground, may dig himself further in. In 

 digging, you should keep room enough ; and care should be taken not 

 to throw the earth where you may have to move it again. In following 

 the hole, the surest way not to lose it is to keep below it. When your 

 hounds are in want of blood, stop all the holes, lest the fox should bolt 

 out unseen. It causes no small confusion when this happens : the hounds 

 are dispersed about, and asleep in different places ; the horses are often 

 at a considerable distance ; and many a fox, by taking advantage of the 

 moment, has saved his life. 



If hounds want blood, and have had a long run, it is the best way, 

 without doubt, to kill the fox upon the earth ; but, if they have not run 

 long ; if it be easy to dig out the fox, and the cover be such a one as they 

 are not likely to change in it is better for the hounds to turn him out 



1 A fox, when pressed by hounds, will seldom go into a furze-brake. Rabbits, which are 

 the fox's favourite food, may also be encouraged there, and yet do little damage. Were they 

 suffered to establish themselves in your woods, it would be difficult to destroy them after- 

 wards. Thus far I object to them, as a farmer : I object to them also, as a fox-hunter ; since 

 nothing is more prejudicial to the breeding of foxes, than disturbing your woods late in the 

 season, to destroy the rabbits. 



* a Middle course. 



