Artificial Earths A more scientific system prevails in other hunts.
A spacious home is provided. The biggest and oldest that I know of consists chiefly .of drain pipes covered over by a hill of earth, and foxes bred in this commodious residenee for many years. The other is known technically as a : stick heap. It is best made of hollow trunks that offer a seductive.1 doorway to the centre of a generous mound of faggots qr other wood. It is not altogether difficult to lure the released vixen to the hospitality of so seductive a nursery. I. do not propose to argue whether it is a good thing or: no to resort to such artificial methods. Not so far away, a good lady has released lately a number of brown squirrels who flourish in spite of the hostility of the grey, which are numerous, (for the place is near Woburn). Every one welcomes the native squirrel ; and if a squirrel, why- not a fox ? The trouble is that the practice alters the villager's view towardg foxes. He maintains that these strangers are more hostile to the poultry yard than is the native ; and in consequence of this change of mood these foxes are ruthlessly trapped and destroyed in other ways. The great increase in poultry- keeping .by farmers, even by farmers most .of whom , are, greatly in favour of the hunt as such, adds difficulty, to the situation in some districts.
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