Some Beasts of Reproach. 1 1 1 



its den in solitudes, and issues stealthily forth to rob the 

 neighbouring poultry-yard, and by-and-by the huntsmen 

 meet and the " ruthless," " bloody-minded " fox is done to 

 death. It is, therefore, a suitable simile for all crafty and 

 guileful persons, especially those who meet with just punish- 

 ment for their crimes. 



But this is not the animal that was made for the earth, 

 and of the two foxes I prefer the natural one. I should 

 like to have found here and there in the poets a reference 

 to the beautiful ruddy fox that by its simple presence, pass- 

 ing across a scrap of woodland scener)', startles the land- 

 scape into unwonted picturesqueness, and marshals all the 

 surrounding foliage into a back-ground for the little living 

 spark of colour moving in front ; or a word for the small 

 foxes, the prettiest wild-thing cubs in the world, with the 

 innocentest faces and most winning ways ; or a word of 

 sympathy for the vixen, that will run before the hounds 

 with a cub in her mouth for miles and miles, and after 

 hiding it, will double and turn upon her course, careless 

 for the time of her own life, in the hope of i,:ad)ng away 

 the hounds from her treasure — a word, in or the 



pretty little beast of prey that is still a nativf 

 and, but for encroaching farmsteads and ga? ^ 



would be abundantly content to live entire?' "^"^^y> "s 

 birds and animals. But of this creature, ^^{'^ ^ ^'^ ^* 

 and brave little English fox, the poets kn* ^^ *.^^ ^^^'^ 

 Even its cheery voice is called "an on'"^'^^'^^^ ""' 

 (Grahame), and said to "make approaching 

 dismal fall." "^^e, and for 



It is "ruthless," "gaunt," "noxious," "wicl foxhunting 

 "greedy," "stinking," "obscene," "vagrant;" "t °^ course, 

 fox ; " " felon " and " villain ; " " the nightl. 

 the fold;" "abhorred alive, more loathsome 

 dead." 



And why all this pother ? Simply because 



