FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 7 



over if he chances it ; and in this rich soil blackthorn 

 grows rapidly and strongly. Thus, if, as it is not un- 

 reasonable to think, there are better times in store for 

 the land, what is more natural than that with prosperity 

 the farmer and grazier should take to hunting, seeing 

 that it is his natural recreation, since the sport is at 

 its best when his work is least urgent ? A large field 

 of farmers, we may remember, means a small area of 

 wire ; and, at least while damage funds are sustained 

 and wisely expended, wire can be held in check. It 

 is in any case rather a detriment to our pleasure and a 

 danger to our lives and limbs than an actual menace 

 to hunting, since the sport goes very merrily after all. 



In the Shires, at least, there is one sign that hunting 

 is still popular. There are plenty of foxes, far more 

 indeed I should say than at any previous period in 

 the history of fox-hunting. All the season through, 

 from October to April, there are always foxes for us 

 to hunt, and what is more, there are no long pauses 

 while foxes are sought for. If one covert is drawn 

 blank, we can trot a mile or so to the next. No one 

 is uneasy ; and we never whisper about a blank day. 

 People have been heard to say that there are too many 

 foxes in the Midlands ; but, with old Peter Beckford, 

 I think they might just as well complain of having too 

 much money. Those who, like the writer, have lived 

 and hunted in countries where foxes are scarce, and 

 where you may draw the livelong day and never hear 

 a hound till it is too late to hunt, or, it may be, never 

 touch on the line of a fox all day, will appreciate the 

 advantage of being sure of finding a fox whenever you 

 want one. 



The uncertainties of fox-hunting are no doubt part 

 of the pleasure, but we cannot enjoy even the uncer- 

 tainties, the ups and downs of the fortunes of the 



