[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—" X, Oxford "
wants to know if foxes would prefer to be born and to be hunted, or not to live at all.
This is an unprofitable query, since foxes, not being self- conscious, cannot prefer one thing to another in an abstract sense ; and, even if they could, we have no means of learning from them what their preferences might be.
And it is a piece of sophistry (I cannot call it argument) which would serve equally well as an excuse for gladiatorial shows, human sacrifices, and the indiscriminate capital punish.. ment inflicted in this country well into last century.
Also it takes no heed of an objection to blood sports not less powerful than that based on their ruthless cruelty—I mean the objection that they tend to make those who practise them callous emotionally and mentally inert.
On your correspondent they seem to have had the latter
League for the Prohibition of Cruel Sports, President. 7 Victoria Street, S.W. z.
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