HUNTING DAYS 187 



children close his jaws on the metal of the draining spade, 

 even while the terrier was fastening on to him in the rear. 

 The rush of the hounds, overwhelming cub and terrier (who 

 runs a greater risk outside than in), is frankly terrible, as the 



hunt of a grown fox in the open never is. But the litters 

 must be reduced. In every hunt the poultry money comes 

 to a considerable sum ; and though it is a humorous reproach 

 against farmers that they prefer to have their chickens killed, 

 the havoc is often pitiable. When one has once seen a 

 houseful of hens killed and mauled by a fox one realises that 

 this splendid beast is vermin nevertheless, and deserves the 

 generic name. Nature is ' red in tooth and claw/ 



If you would see the fox at his best or in most character- 

 istic guise, wait by the side of the covert till the hunt is gone. 

 Within a very short while the old vixens return. If you 

 know their ways you may come thus within a few yards of 

 them. Light-footed and wary she will slip back along the 



