HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



*' I have heard nothing whatsoever of the Kildare 

 Hunt. I therefore consider the coverts on my estate 

 cannot be claimed by them." She complained that 

 four foxes had been shot on her land, and that she 

 had seen that the cubs left after this atrocity had 

 been fed and kept alive, and that in the circum- 

 stances she intended to send for them when old 

 enough to travel for her coverts in Down. " I am 

 altogether against their destruction," she added, 

 *' and have continually checked the coursing of 

 foxes with greyhounds, a favourite amusement." 



Shifting of foxes was not unknown within the 

 Kildare country itself. Earthstoppers were zealous 

 to have foxes in their own coverts, and were quite 

 capable of going to other earths to supply their 

 own wants, especially if they had any little want of 

 appreciation for the owners of such coverts. It is 

 not often, however, that the practice was so un- 

 blushingly gloried in as in a famous case well re- 

 membered by Mr Robert Kennedy. He was attend- 

 ing the funeral of the late Mr James Whitelaw of 

 Killeenmore at Straffan Churchyard, when at that 

 most impressive part of the burial service " Dust 

 to dust," he felt a sharp punch in the back, and 

 heard in a loud whisper, " I got a fine dog fox in a 

 trap this morning." " Hush, hush," said Mr Ken- 

 nedy. " He came from Sallymount," continued 

 the unheeding whisper, " bad luck to them Cra- 

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