66 THE FOX 



we preserve him by artificial means, and increases in 

 direct proportion to the use of them. The wilder the 

 animal, the better the chase. An animal is only perfectly 

 wild when he is left to his own resources at all times. 



Of course we know that nowadays in many 

 countries there would be no foxes at all if no aids to 

 preservation were used, and hunting is kept up by 

 artificial earths, imported foxes, and hand-fed cubs. 

 Unfortunately both these last introduce mange, a 

 scourge which threatens the prosperity of hunting ; 

 nor does it seem likely that the disease will be 

 stamped out while the causes remain. Of these, 

 Masters of Hounds and owners of coverts can control 

 some. The supply of foxes from foreign countries is 

 a large trade. No one ever acknowledges to turning 

 down any other than Scotch foxes. Nevertheless the 

 little red French, Belgian, and German foxes (as a 

 recent circular has made clear) are very common, and 

 have done no good to our native breed. 



But the greatest mischief of all is that dealers 

 bring foxes over in infected crates and store them in 

 infected cages. 



The mange is a disease so persistent, so subtle, and 

 so destructive, that when once it has taken possession 

 of a range of kennels or cages nothing but fire will 

 exterminate it. 



