THE HUNTSMAN. 457 



always destroyed when an opportunity offered, 

 were of course generally scarce ; which, added to 

 the great extent of woods and other fastnesses with 

 which England then abounded, accounts for the 

 fact of hunting the fox, unless as a beast of prey, 

 not being in vogue until these objections were re- 

 moved. But the fox was ever considered as a mis- 

 chievous animal, and, in one signal instance, is 

 said to have been made an engine of mischief to a 

 vast extent, in carrying fire and flame into the 

 standing corn of the rebellious Philistines. A 

 solution of this account, however, on natural prin- 

 ciples, being difficult, it is pretty generally admitted 

 that a mistake in the translation has given rise 

 to it. 



As the preservation of the fox is now more an 

 object in Great Britain than his destruction, it 

 may not be amiss to observe, that a few links of 

 an iron chain, such as an old plough-trace, or a 

 small piece of red cloth, suspended near to the spot 

 on which a hen-pheasant sits, is a certain protec- 

 tion from foxes, of herself, her eggs, or her brood. 



It is asserted by sportsmen of experience, that 

 the scent of foxes varies with the animal ; and that 

 a vixen fox, which has laid up (brought forth) her 

 cubs, is nearly devoid of scent. 



Huntsman. — In the lower ranks of life there are 

 callings which require the exercise of skill and 

 judgment to the very utmost of their extent ; and 

 we know of none that comes more directly with- 

 in this class than that of a huntsman does, of 

 2q 



