Fox Preservation Waste of Foxes. 515 



for doing away with foxes, these have accordingly suffered 

 most. At the hands of gamekeepers foxes are but too likely 

 to receive the quietus, but often against the instructions of 

 their masters. Wherever it is sought to maintain hares, 

 partridges, and pheasants in fox-hunting localities, it must 

 be recognised that the first-named will receive a deal of 

 injury from the varmints, unless the ubiquitous rabbit be 

 encouraged and held in good numerical strength. It may 

 be regarded as an axiom that, when foxes can obtain rabbits, 

 they are content to stick to them. Kill off the rabbits, and 

 they must go to the game for their livelihood, or else eke 

 out a precarious existence by depending upon raids on the 

 poultry-house, which is not quite what the fox considers 

 agreeable. 



We see no reason for excluding a fair supply of foxes 

 even from the most closely-preserved districts, but we do 

 see every reason why the game preserver should take action 

 when he is pestered with too many of the varmints in his 

 preserves. We would recommend moderation on both 

 sides. With that the decrease of the fox in hunting 

 countries need never be brought about by the trapping of 

 game preservers. To other methods no sportsman or gen- 

 tleman would consent. Poisoning foxes is the accomplish- 

 ment of an Irish rabble. 



Waste of foxes in hunting becomes yearly greater, and 

 the causes which contribute to this are various. As we 

 have said, vanity has doubtless a good deal to do with it ; 

 but a fair increase of foxes is often prevented by late 

 hunting, which destroys a much larger percentage of vixens 

 at a period near breeding time than hunting economy can 



