LETTER XXIV. 261 



So much difference is there between real and sham pre- 

 servers of foxes. We were not obliged to pay or fee 

 these keepers for foxes found or litters bred ; knowing 

 their master's humour, the smallest donation was by them 

 most thankfully received. We had several sham pre- 

 servers of foxes, of whom I was well aware ; they were 

 apparently most friendly to our sport, and invited the 

 hounds to meet at their houses, but secret orders were 

 given to their keepers not to have too many foxes. 



As many may not be aware how these things go on in 

 a fox-hunting country, it may be as well to give some 

 little insight into the practices of keepers. By the end 

 of the hunting season, we knew tolerably well the number 

 of vixen foxes left in the country, and the places they 

 frequented. After the first week in March I never 

 allowed any earths to be stopped at night ; they were 

 only put to in the morning. Old vixens lay down their 

 cubs often about this time, and if stopped out a whole 

 night and day, the whole litter would perish. The vixen, 

 it is true, seldom leaves her young at this early period, 

 except for a short time only, and for the purpose of pro- 

 curing food, but I would never run the risk of her being- 

 barred out. Dog foxes in the month of March seldom 

 lie at ground, and I have also often found heavy vixens 

 above ground, when the earths had been left open all 

 night. Foxes, like dogs, are attached to their homes, 

 and a vixen will lay up her cubs in the same place for 

 several successive seasons if fairly dealt with. 



When the hunting season was over, it was Jim's 

 especial business to pay frequent visits to the earths to 

 see that all was fair. He was a man of few words, and 

 there existed between him and the keepers as much real 



