THE COMMON FOX. 



81 



them, for the purpose of laying hold of the fox and removing it, in order, as the phrase is, to "worry 

 it." This being done, that the hounds may recover their wind, and that the tail-hounds may be 

 encouraged as well as the leaders, the fox is held aloft, and the huntsman gets into :i tree or on a high 

 bank, holding the fox towards the hounds. The cheers and noise are then redoubled, and the baying 

 of the hounds, in addition, constitute a chorus peculiarly gratifying to the sportsman's ears. Presently 

 the fox is thrown among the hounds, when it is soon torn limb from limb anil eaten. Such is the 

 finale of this exciting sport. 



When the Duke of Grafton had his hounds at Corydon, it was his custom to have foxes taken 

 occasionally in Whittlebury Forest, and sent up in the venison-cart to London. The fox thus brought 

 was carried down the next hunting morning in a hamper, behind the duke's coach, and turned out for 

 tin- sport of the day, 



THE STAtVTLEI) FOX. 



According to this plan, a fox was taken in a coppice in the forest, and sent up as usual. After a 

 time a fox was taken in the same coppice, whose appearance was so strikingly like that caught on the 

 same spot befoi-e, that the keeper suspected it to be the same animal. The man, whose office it was to 

 go to London with the venison, was therefore directed to inquire whether the fox hunted on such a 

 day was killed or escaped. The latter having been the case, the suspicions of the keepers were 

 considerably strengthened. 



A short time now elapsed, and a fox was token in the same coppice, which its captors were well 

 assured was the same as that previously caught. To be better able to identify him, should another 

 opportunity occur, they cut his lip, slit one ear, and pierced several holes through the other. Reynard 



VOL. II. 11 



