CHAPTER XXXVL GROUND 

 VERMIN. 



THE Fox CONSIDERED AS VERMIN. 



IT is with some diffidence that we head the present chapter, 

 but after reflection we have determined, at whatever 

 risk, to include the fox amongst vermin. From the game 

 preserver's point of view such it undoubtedly is, but what 

 hunting men think is quite another matter. However, to 

 meet the question fairly, we intend to devote several chapters 

 to the fox, some taking into consideration its characteristics 

 as vermin and the best means of destroying it, the others 

 treating of fox preservation and the best means of increasing 

 its numbers. We shall then, we hope, please both parties ; 

 provided the indulgent reader who " does not hunt and 

 does not mean to," but has a stock of pheasants, will take 

 no notice of a certain weakness of ours, which may pre- 

 sently appear, and that the other indulgent reader for we 

 hope for both will stop at this point and go on to the next 

 chapter. 



Few animals excite more interest than the fox, not only 

 among such as are directly interested in rural sports, but 



