76 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



place where the fox had caught the victims, which 

 was readily agreed to. When they got to the 

 place he saw the remains of a nest and some egg- 

 shells, and beginning to get suspicious he asked 

 whether the fox had taken full-grown birds or 

 chickens. The reply was, " A hen and chickens." 

 He next inquired if it was eggs or chickens the 

 fox had taken ; whereupon the man confessed it 

 was a hen sitting on eggs the fox had caught, but 

 the eggs would probably have hatched out all 

 right and grown up into good marketable poultry, 

 so the hunt ought to pay for them as such. 

 " Well," said the other, " 1 have often heard of 

 counting chickens before they were hatched, but 

 I never heard of their being paid for before ! " 



Though foxes undoubtedly are destructive, a 

 very great deal is laid to their charge undeservedly, 

 and all the sins committed by wandering dogs 

 and cats are heaped on their devoted heads. It is 

 rather curious that gamekeepers are so abusive of 

 them, when they are the best friends possible to 

 a lazy or incompetent man, for, like the domestic 

 cat, they bear the blame for all shortcomings, 

 which would be laid on the right shoulders if 

 they were improved out of existence ! 



