286 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



few days only after snow, during which foxes were 

 padded about in all directions, and no doubt were 

 in the earths at the time the country was drawn 

 blank. 



The disadvantages of having earths are so much 

 greater than the advantages, that if every earth in 

 the country Avas done away with it would be a 

 benefit to fox-hunting, even as respects the breed- 

 ing of foxes, for the vixens would breed above 

 ground in furze, or would find drains, which no one 

 knows of, etc. But every fox-earth in the country 

 is known to all poachers and fox -takers and 

 keepers ; consequently, every Htter of foxes bred in 

 them is known, and unless it is possible to have a 

 constant watch over them, they may be taken in 

 half an hour by various methods, none more fatal 

 than terriers, which are taught to bring the cubs 

 out alive in their mouths, or by digging pits at the 

 mouth of the earth into which the cubs di'op when 

 they attempt to come out, which they will do 

 shortly after they can see, in consequence of 

 hunger, if the old Aaxen is kept away, who, poor 

 thing ! is watching close by, but dares not come to 

 them, as one of these atrocious ruffians of fox- 

 takers is near, ready to take the cubs when they 

 fall into the pit. Added to which, the vixen often 



