262 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



hear of a neighbour buying his pheasants eggs ? for 

 on both sport equally depends. 



The difference in the sagacity of young foxes 

 bred up in the above manner, and those bred up 

 naturally by the vixen, at the same age, is almost 

 beyond beUef, owing, of course, to their education 

 by tlie old vixen. One proof amongst many 

 known the ^vTiter gives. After killing a cub with 

 his hounds, another ran into a rabbit hole ; the 

 whipper-in got hold of the brush, and in pulling 

 the cub out, he pulled off half the brush. The 

 hounds were gone home, but he brought home this 

 cub, about eight miles from the cover ; and in the 

 same evening it was marked and turned out close 

 by the kennel. Nothing more was thought about 

 it till near Christmas, when the same wood was 

 drawn where this fox was bred and dug out. He 

 was again found, and after a good run was killed ; 

 and he was known by his short brush, and the 

 mark. This young fox, in the month of October, 

 had found his way back to this cover, having had 

 to cross two wide rivers, and travel eight miles. 



Therefore, when young foxes are brought, it is 

 by far the best plan, if possible, to find out exactly 

 Avhere they came from ; to do which, the whipper- 

 in should go back with the man who brought them, 



