216 



CANNIBALISM. 



that they have not discriminated the loathful 

 remains of a disgusting fox, from the ordinary 

 food, which they daily receive from the hands of 

 the huntsman, whilst they are in the kennel. 

 Now, nature has had nothing to do with the 

 repast. If the captured fox could have been 

 rescued from the mouths of its devourers, and 

 offered to them when it had become cold, and their 

 own fury had subsided, not a dog in all the pack 

 would have touched it. Congenial instinct, no 

 longer vitiated by the recent excitement of the 

 chase, would cause the dogs to reject the unusual 

 and disgusting food. But, had the carcass of a 

 sheep, been thrown into the kennel, it would have 

 been consumed immediately; because, the dog 

 and the sheep form two distinct species of animals 

 no-ways connected with each other. 



The excitement caused in the chase, will be 

 fatal to an affection which is sometimes known to 

 exist betwixt the dog and the fox. We had an 

 instance of this, in the days of my father, who had 

 been a noted fox -hunter in early life. 



In the kennel of a neighbouring baronet, there 

 was a tame fox ; and my father used to be much 

 amused in observing the uncommon familiarity 

 which existed betwixt it and the hounds. These 

 would play with it, — and it with them, in all 



