SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 29 



CHAPTER V. 



Unnecessary cruelty to animals condemned — Necessity of branding 

 foxhound whelps — Homeward bound — Anecdote of a lady fox- 

 hound — Marvellous instinct — The Three Magpies on Hounslow 

 Heath — Agreeable incidental adventures — Travelling in bygone 

 days — The extra spur to footboys — Advantages of giving names 

 to puppies before sent to their walks. 



Animadversions will be made upon foxhunters 

 decrying cruelty in others, who are accused of prac- 

 tisinof it themselves. The cruelties in huntino: a 

 fox have been described over and over again, until 

 the subject has become threadbare. Foxes must be 

 killed as well as other animals of prey, and we 

 do not believe, were the proposition submitted to a 

 committee of vulpines, whether they would prefer 

 being trapped by keepers, or run the chance of 

 being snapped by hounds, there would be a 

 moment's hesitation in their choosing the latter 

 alternative. 



We are running wide of the mark, however, just 

 now, from marking foxhound whelps to marking 

 foxes ; but we would gladly dispense with this cruel 



