FOX-HUNTING — THE FOX. 57 



through the turnip-field. Jim now came up, and gave me the 

 shepherd's story about the rabbit. He saw the fox coming 

 through the turnips towards where he was standing with some- 

 thing in his mouth. The turnips being high, he was not seen 

 by j\Ir. Slyboots (whose attention was most probably directed to 

 what was passing in his rear) ; that, upon the fox coming nearer 

 to him, he first threw his crook at him, but he would not drop 

 the rabbit ; he then set his dog after him ; the fox, showing fight, 

 dropped the rabbit, which therefore fell to the shepherd's lot." 



Incredible as this story may appear, there is no doubt, from 

 its being related by a man of Mr. Horlock's standing, of its 

 being correct. And I can bring a similar occurrence, witnessed 

 by a friend of mine in ISTorthamptonshire, which will tend to 

 corroborate it. He, with several others, had left the Pytchley 

 at the time Mr. Anstruther Thomson hunted them near Walton 

 Holt, and, making their way home, they stopped at the inn 

 at North Kilworth for gruel. Whilst standing before the 

 door, they saw a fox crossing the paddock in front of the house, 

 where he deliberately seized a chicken. A few moments later, the 

 hounds came along, so that they were actually hunting the fox 

 at the time he caught the chicken — slowly, it is true, but hunt- 

 ing him they were.^ 



Foxes seldom become tame, unless caught very young, 



* Since this was written, the following has appeared in the memoir of 

 the Rev. J. Russell, published in "Bailey's Magazine" for May, 1878, 

 which quite corroborates the instances I have given as to what a fox will 

 do with hounds behind him. 



" Russell had found a fox one fine scenting morning on the outskirts of 

 the moor, and was bringing him at a trimming pace over the wide heathery 

 waste of Hawkridge Common, and thence into the hanging woods that 

 crown the Barle with such majestic scenery, when Russell's ear was 

 attracted by the wild screams of a woman, apparently in the greatest 

 distress. The hounds at that moment were running apparently exactly in 

 the direction of the hubbub ; and, as Russell rode up to the spot, he beheld 

 a woman rushing frantically after them ; and, catching sight of him, she 

 exclaimed, in a voice of agony, • Oh ! Mr. Russell ! that there fox hath 



