250 FOXES v. GAME. [PART II. 
one good run than carry a gun at ten of the best 
battues that the country can afford—enemies to 
those, who, preferring shooting to hunting, pre- 
serve game to the exclusion of foxes. And I will 
do so without reserve, because I think it is due 
to those gentlemen (and there are many) who, 
although they preserve game and do not hunt, 
yet preserve foxes simply for the amusement of 
their friends, that an ample acknowledgment 
should be made to them for their kindness, and 
that no attempt should be made to blink or de- 
preciate the sacrifice which they are thus liberal 
enough to make for the benefit of others. 
I believe the Fox to be about the most in- 
discriminate of our carnivorous animals, nothing 
from a hare to a mouse coming amiss to him; 
and that the different descriptions of game suffer 
more or less from his attaeks, only just in pro- 
portion as they are more or less accessible to 
him. For that reason I believe that hares suffer 
most, and next to. them partridges. Foxes have 
been said to be so fond of rabbits that they will 
touch nothing else if they can get a sufficient 
supply of them. Doubtless they are—very fond 
of them, but the young rabbits are protected by 
being snugly under ground, whilst the unfortu- 
