MODERN CONDITIONS OF HUNTING 43 



them. But now they had their fox close in front, and 

 were able to reach the covert, a large wood of nearly 

 one hundred acres. Including the hunt servants not 

 more than eight or ten were with them, and when the 

 wood was reached the party became divided, each man 

 choosing his own "ride." Hearing hounds in front 

 we pressed on and found them baying at a cage, which 

 was placed in the middle of the covert in a tremend- 

 ously thick place, and inside of which were two foxes 

 — evidently ready for the draw which was to be made in 

 a day or two. The hunted fox had probably gone on, 

 but the master and one of his men were quickly 

 on the spot, so that the situation was thoroughly 

 grasped. 



We have heard on what appeared to be absolutely 

 reliable information that another pack of hounds came 

 upon one of these cages in a big covert, and that, owing 

 to the wire not being strong enough to resist their 

 weight, they got inside, and quickly disposed of the 

 half-dozen foxes which were being bottled up for future 

 use. The story was told us by a master of hounds, 

 and we have little doubt of its truth, because we have 

 actually seen three of these cages — the one referred to 

 above and two others. One of these we discovered by 

 pure accident during a summer walk, and the other we 

 saw when covert shooting with a non-hunting host, 

 who exhibited his toy with some measure of conceit, 

 and who was totally unaware that he was offending 

 against the canons of sport. "Look what an admir- 

 able contrivance I have for foxes," he said, and 

 pointed out a wired enclosure of about one hundred 

 feet by fifty, with a hovel at one end, just like a 

 mammal-house at the Zoo. This cage was placed in a 

 well-chosen situation, held a water trough, and a great 



