4 MARCH 1938, Page 21

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

Stn,—Your correspondent " X " should not ask human beings whether foxes would wish to live to be hunted, but rather ask human beings whether they have the right to encourage the breeding and preservation of any animal solely to give man the pleasure of causing it terror and pain by hunting it to death. Should we be justified in breeding cats for the fun of seeing dogs kill them ?

Would it not be better even for wild foxes to become extinct rather than to breed them to be tortured ?—Yours, &c.,

"Mill Corner," Gerrards Cross. BASIL JOHNSON.