CUBS, FOXES, AND VIXENS. 279 



with the dead birds, the tame cubs have killed 

 out of mischief, and left lying about. 



It stands to reason that, if their mother is 

 killed before they have fairly done sucking, all 

 their food will have to be brought to their bed- 

 side, as you may call it, by their old nurse, the 

 keeper. A man for their mother ! they may 

 well be tame, when their mother calls them up 

 to feed, by whistling ; can they be anything 

 else but tame cubs and foxes ? I say that 

 these cubs, deprived of their mother, will kill 

 more tame birds than the vixen would have 

 done if she had been alive. 



So that, you see, although you may think 

 you have acted wisely, when your wisdom is 

 put to the test, you will find that you have less 

 birds for your master and his friends to shoot 

 at, when they come through your woods. Now, 

 what good are these wretched tame foxes to 

 you, or to the hounds ? 



"Come, come, Wilkins," you say, "They 

 are some good, a great deal of good ; 

 when the hunt comes and finds the wood 

 full of foxes, I can plead that to my 



