FOXES AND THE EVERLASTING QUESTION 169 
because my orders were to preserve foxes, but 
partly out of sporting sympathy. 
To return to the question of foxes, I admit that a 
few shooting-men—and a few keepers—may be 
inclined to exaggerate the damage foxes have 
inflicted on their game. But the majority of hunting 
folk will persist in minimizing the tribute levied by 
foxes on game, and so tend to bring about the very 
result they wish to avoid. What surprises me is 
not so much that hunting-people should fail to 
show sympathy toward shooting-men, but that they 
should arrogate themselves to dictate to them. To 
me this seems like pure folly, seeing that the most 
vital interest of hunting is entirely in the hands of 
those who hold shooting-rights. All shooting-men 
and their keepers are ever ready to admit that 
hunting-people ought to know their own business 
best, as no doubt they do, so far as the interests 
of hunting alone are concerned, irrespective of all 
other interests.) The only way to further the 
interests of hunting is through the interests of 
shooting. Instead of which, many hunting-people 
(who are apt to forget that they are permitted to 
pursue their sport solely by the courtesy of holders 
of shooting-rights) defeat their own ends by their 
selfishness and dictatorial bearing toward those 
whom rather they should approach as suppliants. 
I think a very small percentage of shooting-men 
are unreasonably selfish, yet obviously their attitude 
