244 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



allowed, and regularly paid. The fees of earth-stoppers, 

 from half-a-crown, to ten or fifteen shillings, according to 

 the number of stops within the provhice of each, amount, 

 on the average, to four pounds per diem. Thus, supposing 

 that the sport is limited to the finding of one fox, we 

 start with an expense of five pounds, as the smallest tax 

 upon the day — independent of all the inevitable v/ear and 

 tear. So long as these subordinates have as much 

 interest in foxes, as farmers have in their stock or any 

 kind of property, it is not to be wondered that the 

 animal abounds ; and it is equally clear that it would be 

 better that they should cost two sovereigns each, than 

 that the stock should be diminished, seeing that there is 

 no medium ; that they either are or are not ; that they 

 are altogether preserved, or utterly destroyed ; as there 

 is no such thing as modification in the forms of vul- 

 pecide. 



But, at the same time, in face of the fact, that most 

 of the great game-preservers have as much, or far more 

 pleasure in the possession of foxes, than of game in their 

 coverts, it appears somewhat absurd that they should 

 be compelled to become parties to the purchase of 

 them, from the very servants whose duty it is to protect 

 them. The master stipulates with his keeper no less 

 for the protection of the fox, than of the pheasant, and 

 yet allows an extraordinary premium to be paid ; a prize 

 to be directly awarded to him for the fulfilment of that, 

 in default of which he should, and generally would, be 

 discharged. In countries where so unsportsmanlike a 



