DO FOXES LIKE BEING HUNTED? 313 



" We know the men like It. the horses certainly 

 like it, and we have no proof that the fox does not 

 like it." He very probably does enjoy himself on a cold 

 scenting day when the hounds cannot hit off his line ; 

 then probably, as he sneaks away down wind, he 

 turns round to make grimaces at his pursuers ; but I 

 cannot imagine that he experiences much pleasure 

 when he is chopped in covert, or feels that the leading 

 hounds are close to his brush, and that a funeral 

 sermon will very soon be preached over his remains. 



As regards driving, cruelty can only exist when the 

 horses are made to perform work beyond their powers, 

 or made to labour when out of condition, or suffering 

 from disease, or from wounds or sores occasioned by 

 ill-fitting harness, or when the driver loses his temper 

 and strikes a horse without necessity, or is not suffi- 

 ciently patient with the animals committed to his care ; 

 but these things would not be likely to occur with 

 four-horse coachmen. 



In regard to driving coaches, these vehicles are 

 made excessively heavy. In the old coaching days 

 this was necessary, as they had to journey over very 

 bad roads and met with all sorts of accidents ; but 

 this is not the case now, and there is no reason why, 

 in order to obtain the style of an old-fashioned four- 

 horse coach, modern coaches should be made so heavy. 

 Modern coaches are rarely in use except in the summer- 

 time ; if they travel at all it is over good roads, they 

 rarely, if ever, meet with accidents, neither are they 

 so heavily loaded ; consequently coach-builders of the 

 present day should aim as much as possible at lightness 

 of build in combination with strength, durability, and 

 characteristic appearance. 



If any complaint can be made against four-in-hand 



