36 



and escape, in the very presence of the farmer, in the 

 barn yard. 



His fleetness renders pursuit by man or ordinary farm 

 dogs hopeless, even though encumbered with his prey. 



He is taken only, in the effectual and delightful mode, 

 pursued by the lovers of the chase. Though he runs far 

 and fast, and uses every possible stratagem to escape the 

 merited fate which awaits him, the faithful hound of bot- 

 tom and his aids, will sooner or later overtake and des- 

 patch him, notwithstanding they have to engage in a se- 

 vere struggle, with a wicked and venemous enemy. 



There are many in society, who unthinkingly and illib- 

 erally condemn hunting as a savage sport. They are either 

 unacquainted with the extent of the evil, or not having 

 suffered by the cruel and murderous little animal, look 

 with a single oblique eye, to the motive or means of the 

 sportsman, without perceiving the salutary end; and will 

 readily sanction the destruction of poor crows by hun- 

 dreds, the hawk, the squirrel, the minx and the wolf, 

 purely on account of their predatory habits. Let them 

 exchange places with the farmer, and be made sensibly 

 to know and feel the efl'ect of the fox's excursions and 

 inroads on his premises and living property, and they 

 will change their sentiments of humanity in that respect, 

 and join in the common hue and cry against the greatest 

 common midnight enemy of the farmer, and the whole 

 feathered creation. 



Worthless alive, he is only to be valued when dead. 



