LETTER VI. 67 



it is good policy, if no better motive exists, to reward 

 these men handsomely, as it is in their power not only to 

 pay themselves by selling foxes, but also to spoil a day's 

 sport by carelessness or inattention. Much will of course 

 depend upon the country you hunt, and the master of 

 the coverts, whether he is at heart a real well-wisher to 

 foxhounds or not. In some countries the fees to keepers 

 and earth-stoppers form a very heavy item in the ex- 

 penses of the establishment, which the master has to 

 bear. In others a separate fund is raised for this purpose. 

 In some clay districts, such as the Roothings of Essex, 

 foxes are often bred above ground, in old hollow stools, 

 or laid up in gorse coverts. These foxes are always the 

 best and straightest runners, trusting to their stoutness 

 and knowledge of country to beat their pursuers. 



There are three breeds of foxes common in Great 

 Britain. The large light-coloured greyhound fox, gene- 

 rally found in the north of England, Scotland, and Wales, 

 also on the wild hills of Devonshire, and in some other 

 counties ; the bulldog fox, dark coloured, with a large 

 head ; and the cur, a small red fox, to which I think we 

 are indebted to our Gallic friends the other side of the 

 Channel. There are of course mixed breeds, to be found 

 in every county, but these three are, I think, or were, 

 distinct species. The greyhound .fox has almost dis- 

 appeared, where some years ago he was well known, and 

 the large importations of French foxes have certainly 

 proved a very poor substitute. They cannot or will not 

 run, and will lie down when the least blown in the open, 

 until the hounds are upon them. They are also always 

 prowling about the farm-yard, and do more mischief 

 than they are worth. 



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