BEASTS OF THE CHASE. THE FOX. 63 



you cannot expel even with the handle of a pitchfork ; the 

 prongs, as used by an irascible henwife, may in individual 

 instances prove efficacious, without at all upsetting our theory. 

 That in his wild state he is the most petted of animals, the 

 only felon the condonation of whose felony finds favour with a 

 law-abiding public, is beyond contradiction. Hunted he must 

 be ; if he is to exist at all in England it is his raison d'etre^ and 

 if consulted on the subject he would probably not wish it other- 

 wise. He thoroughly understands the sport in all its branches. 

 Pursuit by a terrier is looked upon as a friendly game of romps ; 



' In search of a supper.' 



a merry-go-round with a pack of harriers (not too big) is re- 

 garded in much the same light, and it is only the pack of adver- 

 tised foxhounds (he is particular on the score of advertisement) 

 whom he considers really worthy of the steel of his cunning 

 and staunchness. 



Of course he has to contend with incidental annoyance, 

 such as that of being coursed by a brace of greyhounds these 

 are soon settled by a stiff bullfinch of being shot at by a 

 shortsighted or over-enthusiastic gunner a much more serious 



