A ROADSIDE NATURALIST. n 



a' purpose just to save a rumpus, when the farmers 

 had killed 'em off to save their own stuff. The dogs 

 would chop into them and kill 'em quick afore they'd 

 got precious little way. Ye see they be strange, and 

 don't know where to run to. But it's all right if they 

 finds and kills a fox." 



Foxes are the cause of more trouble and ill-feeling 

 amongst keepers than all the rest of the vermin put 

 together. Almost any offence is overlooked more 

 readily than the killing of a fox. 



Polecats, stoats, and weasels all live and hunt in 

 old hedges bordered by waste grounds, close to the 

 highroads. I have known all three species to be 

 procured from one old hedgerow. In some localities 

 where I have lived, the powerful and ferocious pole- 

 cat was so common that his name was constantly 

 used to express all that was bad. The nearer he 

 could establish himself to a house the better it suited 

 him ; and he had the very worst reputation on ac- 

 count of the harm he did to poultry. 



Rabbits, rats, mice, frogs, and birds all live and 

 roost or rest in hedges. The bottom of any good 

 old hedge parting two fields is a perfect fortress for 

 the creatures. Strange to say, the hunt will be 



