FIN AND FUR ON SURREY HILLS. 95 



the earth to a public footpath, that persons out for 

 a stroll used to stop and. watch the vixen and her 

 cubs at play. 



One morning one of the cubs was found dead, close 

 to the earth. From certain signs on the ground round 

 about him, there could not be the least doubt that 

 some person or persons unknown had committed 

 the awful crime of fox-murder. It might have been 

 done by way of a gentle hint to Master Reynard 

 and his family that it would be well to leave the 

 remainder of the ducks alone. 



Although the fox has grace of sanctuary allowed 

 him by some for their own purposes, yet he has ever 

 been a bone of contention : he has had many a 

 curse heaped on his head, and has been the cause 

 of more bickerings and ill - feeling among certain 

 classes than any other of our wild creatures. 



If only the same protection had been awarded 

 to the badger, it would be well for our farmers, 

 large and small. May he long have his home on 

 our Surrey hillsides. I confess to a great weakness 

 for this frolicsome bear-like little creature. 



One morning last summer (1890), I was out for 

 a stroll through the woods, when a man hailed me 



