Ground Vermin The Fox as Vermin. 347 



British Isles, under the name of vermin, more difficult to 

 discomfit. 



Foxes, we believe, are as much vermin as either the stoat 

 or the polecat, and although fox hunting is a very excellent 

 and exciting sport, still we do not see why it should be 

 carried on to the disadvantage of those many persons who, 

 taking no part whatever in the sport, are obliged, if they 

 would not seek disfavour, to protect and encourage foxes 

 even to their own embarrassment and pecuniary loss. There 

 are very many people at the present moment, who while 

 to all appearance enthusiastic over the number of foxes 

 and the sport obtained in hunting them on their land, are 

 at the same time secretly destroying the varmints whenever 

 the chance offers. Many of these are game preservers, and 

 it must be extremely annoying to them to have to protect 

 the very animals which are the worst drawbacks to the 

 increase of game which they can encounter. Some, we know, 

 want both pheasants and foxes, and these should have their 

 wish, but what we see no reason for is the preservation of 

 foxes by those who never take part nor interest in the hunt. 

 It has been stated that the fox is dying out ; perhaps it is ; 

 our opinion is exactly the reverse, and we may rest assured 

 that, if things go on as at present, these varmints are as 

 little likely to die out as the race of men who follow the 

 brush. 



In Scotland no one objects to a fox being killed, and 

 surely Reynard is no more plentiful there, nor the people less 

 attached to rural habits and the surroundings necessary to a 

 rural life, than in the southern part of the kingdom ; then 

 why should we dwellers in hunting countries be compelled 



