146 FAGGOT OR DEAD COVERS. 



covers made of dead wood, instead of planting or 

 sowing. These are denominated " Stick covers," 

 "Faggot covers," or "Dead covers;" they maybe 

 found to answer occasionally in the total absence of 

 real brushwood, until a regular gorse cover can be 

 raised ; but they are also highly objectionable on many 

 accounts, in the first place no good wild fox will lie in 

 them ; and secondly, they are dreadfully distressing to 

 hounds when drawing, on account of the thorns 

 breaking off after they have punctured them, and, in 

 consequence, frequently causing an obstinate lameness; 

 lastly, they are awfully expensive, and at the best 

 only last about three years. Where there are many 

 old whitethorn bushes (of twenty or thirty years' 

 growth) upon the side of some w^arm and sequestered 

 bank, the boughs may be advantageously nicked 

 down, and the interstices filled up with strong stakes 

 and dead wood ; by this means, a good cover of 

 several acres may be at once formed, quite equal to 

 any gorse cover, which will last for many years 

 without renewing, and to which foxes will be found 

 to take more kindly, than if the whole were composed 

 of faggots and such rubbish. An artificial earth may 

 also be made in one corner, but it will be found of 

 but little avail for the purpose of rearing turned- 

 down cubs in, unless there is a good supply of water 

 close at hand ; this is indispensable, as without it, 

 young foxes will inevitably wander away and be lost, 

 and thus starved to death or destroyed. No game 

 should be encouraged in a cover, which is rented or 

 kept up solely as a fox-cover, for reasons too obvious to 

 mention, and even rabbits, where they are allowed to 



