THE SPORTING WORLD. 153 



extensively, that is, when they get a chance ; 

 I believe they like lamb also, and a sickly 

 helpless one does sometimes fall to their share. 

 Thus, though a foxhunter, I honestly admit all 

 the depredations of which the fox is occasionally 

 guilty, and if the rogue could have his will his 

 love of destruction is so insatiate that he would 

 leave us little game or poultry for our tables ; 

 but be it remembered that game have wings, 

 and poultry are at night usually locked up, or 

 at least the door is shut where they roost, 

 lambs, if in health, are usually by their mother's 

 side, and a ewe in defence of her offspring is 

 a serious antagonist to a fox who is not the 

 bold animal some people may think ; he is a 

 coward, though shewing recklessness from despair, 

 which is miscalled gameness. When was a fox 

 known to attack a foxhound or even a terrier? 

 True he dies hard when attacked and from despair 

 fights desperately; he is in this only more 

 courageous than the animal who dies without 



