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occasionally smashed fence posts and rails, where bene- 

 ficial birds of prey »o often waited and watched, in 

 dayliglit and dark, for insidious foes which consumed 

 the land owner's crops. 



Finally several of the Fox hunters — those who pur 

 sued Foxes for pleasure alone — who knew much of the 

 damage done to poultry by Foxes with young, made up 

 a purse, and agreed to pay farmers who were digging 

 out old Foxes and their whelps, for all the domesti- 

 cated fowls that were killed. It was further stipu 

 lated that Mr. and Mrs. Reynard's heirs should not be 

 slain for bounty, but when caught should be kept alive, 

 until a certain size, when they were to be liberated. 

 This arrangement saved the lives of many Foxes. 



A DIVERSION ENJOYED BY MANY. 



Fox hunting for pleasure — a most exhilarating and, 

 to many, enjoyable diversion — is engaged in by some 

 of the foremost citizens of Chester, Delaware, Mont- 

 gomery, Lancaster, Washington and perhaps a few 

 other counties. In these localities there is more or 

 less sentiment expressed in favor of Foxes. 



THEY SAY HE DOES MUCH GOOD. 



Some gentlemen, and I believe they are sincere in 

 what they say, claim that: 



"Foxes subsist chiefly on mice, rats, or other rodents: and 

 also consume great quantities of grasshoppers and 'bugs'; and 

 that the consumption of these pests is of far more value, pe- 

 cuniarily considered, than is the occasional turkey, chicken, 

 duck or goose, which are rarely stolen, unless other food sup- 

 plies run short." 



These persons seldom, if ever, refer to the Fox's 

 keen sense of smell, and acute hearing, which, with his 



