8J. HUNTING AND SPORTING NOTES. 



forward to hunt tlie whole country next season free of 

 cost. In the matter of foxes, I have ah'eady ventured 

 iny advice that the stock now left should, if possible, be 

 protected during the breeding season, and this can mainly 

 be done by liberality with the poultry fund, and its being 

 so announced without delay. Keepers must be kept on 

 the right side. I attribute the increase of foxes in some 

 places I could mention, to the lessening of game pre- 

 servation. There is something inherently antagonistic 

 between a gamekeeper and a fox. An old story, which 

 illustrates what I mean, is worth repeating here. A 

 gentleman who was an M.F.H. in the West of England, 

 and who tried to act up to the motto, *^ Foxes as well as 

 pheasants," had just engaged a new head keeper. The 

 man came from a rather suspicious quarter, but was 

 strictly enjoined not to destroy the foxes, and this he 

 promised faithfully to obey. There were two litters that 

 spring in the park, which w^ere occasionally visited during 

 the summer by the master. One day, as autumn was 

 drawing on, he went, after a rainy night, to see whether 

 the cubs could be padded near the earth, but no sign of 

 them was to be found. This aroused his suspicion, but 

 the keeper averred that they had moved to another earth. 

 The underkeeper was ordered to make further search ; 

 he did so, and found two places where the earth was 

 freshly moved, and on tarning it up found a brace of 

 beautifully healthy cubs — each had had a leg broken in 

 a tra^D. These carcases were duly brought to the master. 

 The head keeper was sent for, and told that there was 

 some suspicion of unfair play having been going on with 

 the foxes. The keeper was resolute. " If there had 

 been any foul play it was unknown to him, for he would 

 not allow such a shameful thing on any account. He 

 had taken every possible care of them." The M.F.H. 

 replied " I do not beheve you." " What, me, sir ? I'll 

 take my oath I have not killed them," quoth the keeper. 

 "Do you mean that?" rejoined his master. "Then 

 take the book," holding out the testamentary Bible, 

 which, as a magistrate, he always kept by him. The 

 keeper took the book in his hand, when the gentleman 

 said " Hold hard, my friend," and ringing the bell, in 

 walked the footman with the two cubs as before 



