SCIENCE OF FOXIIUXTING. 409 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 



The author's visit to a game preserver with a friend — Hospitable re- 

 ception — 'Mr. Fortescue's advocacy of " The Noble Science " in a 

 social point of view — Hunting wild animals natural to man — 

 The time of year when foxes may purloin pheasants, which, 

 even then, have a peculiar protection — Rabbits their favourite 

 game. 



Many years ago, -wlien commencing the unthankful 

 task of forming a foxhunting country in a district 

 which had at a remote period been visited by a pack 

 of foxhounds — but which, like angels' visits, had 

 been few and far between; so rare, indeed, that a 

 price had been set on the heads of the vulpine race, 

 and paid by the churchwardens of some parishes — 

 we called upon a large game preserver to solicit the 

 favour of his preserving foxes for our hunt. 



"Preserve foxes V' he exclaimed, in perfect amaze- 

 ment at the apparent impertinence of our request; 

 " I preserve hares and pheasants for my own and 

 my friends^ amusement. What on earth induced 

 you to ask me to make my coverts a preserve for 

 foxes ? '^ 



"That you might increase the number of your 

 friends fiftyfold. But the term preserve, is perhaps 

 rather too strong; our meaning is, that if you will 

 protect the foxes which may enter your coverts from 

 being trapped by your keepers, you will confer a 



