268 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



foxes were bred in any hunting country ; for the 

 consequence of it is that the mangy young foxes, 

 in the course of a short time, find out all the 

 fox-earths near, and instinctively make use of 

 them, thereby infecting them with mange, so that 

 every native which enters these earths for some 

 time afterwards, catches the disease. The reason 

 why foxes, purchased as above described, become 

 thus mangy is, that this atrocious trade is 

 generally kept by men who reside in London, and 

 they have not a room sufficiently large to keep 

 them clean ; and when once that one room has 

 been infected, it is scarcely possible to cleanse it. 

 There is another cause to which the introduction 

 of mangy foxes into the country may be attributed, 

 that is, owing to a fox having by some means taken 

 poisoned food, but not sufficient to destroy him. 

 This is well known to have that effect on all animals, 

 and in none more than a fox and a rat, both of 

 which in the course of time recover their health ; 

 but it is at least two years before they recover their 

 coats or fur. That they do recover is certain, 

 although it has not been discovered what its 

 instinct has apphed as a cure ; but to something 

 there is httle doubt, as we may judge by the canine 

 race, for unless a dog which is affected by mange is 



