FOX-HUNTING IN MAY 



In winter is is often a hardship to leave a warm 

 bed, and breakfast by lamp-light in order to reach 

 a distant meet, and you sometimes mentally 

 ejaculate, "Is it worth it?" It is generally 

 worth it, however, and so in May the preliminaries 

 to a day with hounds on the hills do not daunt you, 

 seeing that they can all be performed in good 

 daylight. The first three or four hours are worth 

 all the rest when it comes to finding and hunting 

 a wily lamb-killer. Hounds soon pick up the 

 overnight drag on the dew-drenched grass, and 

 they can often rattle along with it and make a 

 quick unkennel. 



The line may prove to be that of dog fox or 

 vixen, though you cannot be sure which until 

 you view your fox or judge by the route taken. 



It may sound very unorthodox to hunt the 

 mother of cubs, but you have no choice if she is 

 thought to be responsible for sundry losses in the 

 dalemen's flocks. Dog or vixen, one or both 

 must pay the penalty of their misdeeds, and the 

 price of their existence and that of their kind. 

 The average vixen in May, although not in the 

 best of fettle, is nevertheless quite able to run, 

 and many a one beats hounds as the ground dries 

 and the sun grows warmer. 



Sometimes hounds drag up to the place where 

 the litter is hidden, and there then ensues some 

 strenuous digging until the youngsters are cor- 

 nered and brought to light. From the earth far 

 up the mountain-side they are carried down to 

 civilisation, a home being found for them until 

 they can be eventually turned down, or sold to 

 improve the stock elsewhere. 



While the vixen may be in the earth, she is 

 quite as likely to be above ground not far away. 

 If hounds hit off her line she may afford quite a 



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