leaves the earths generally about ten or eleven o'clock at night, unless the state of the weather be extremely unfavourable; and then, like a prudent officer of the commissariat department, he stops at home. His sharp bark about midnight indicates his whereabout. He visits farmyards and homesteads, hen-roosts, and other out-buildings containing ducks, geese, and turkeys, making, when he can accomplish an entrance, sad havoc amongst every description of these inhabitants of the farm premises. An extraordinary instance of the cunning of the fox, "continued the woodman, "occurred a short time ago. A neighbour of ours possessed a large number of fine turkeys, which usually roosted in the branches of some tall Scotch firs, immediately adjoining the farm-yard; reynard had an eye to these, and paid them several visits, during the moonlight nights, unsuccessfully. They were perched too high for him to reach them, and therefore he had to resort to stratagem, for stratagem is the fox's stalking-horse. Now, how was this to be practised? Well, he first scratched the ground beneath the tree with his fore-feet, and then the base of the tree itself, in order to draw their attention, at the same time looking up to mark every movement. He then ran round the tree in rapid rings. The turkeys, aware of their danger, followed his quick movements with their eyes, and became confused and dizzy. One fine bird fell plump upon the ground, and was instantly killed, according to the authority of the shepherd, who was watching the proceedings. The like scheme was repeated, and down came another, which shared the same fate-both were borne off to the earths. loss of turkey after turkey induced the farmer to watch in ambush, and the truth of this stratagem was fully established. But he paid the forfeit of his own life; for he was shot dead whilst decamping with his last booty.

The

"It is true," he continued, "that reynard will travel a long distance in search of food; but, like a true general, never when he can levy his contributions near home. Thus, also, if the estate in which he is located abounds with game, his visits to the homestead will be of less frequent occurrence; nor will he attack hares, if there be an abundant snpply of rabbits. When, however, this is not the case, he will, even at day time, seize the hen pheasant or the partridge upon their nests, as well as the hare upon her form,' notwithstanding the alarm created by the carrion crows, which are constantly upon the watch, and have a particular eye to his movements. The fox is thus the means of causing very extensive destruction amongst the several descriptions of game. In those woods where foxes abound to a considerable extent, they will so diminish the number of rabbits, that very few can be seen at any time. Becoming, under these circumstances, extremely scarce, even to themselves, they are compelled to extend their nightly rambles to a considerable distance from home. If there is a young family to be provided for, they are extremely bold and determined in search of, and in seizing there prey. The old fox will then leave the earths early in the afternoon, or just before the sun has reached the west; and proceeding very cautiously, will approach the homestead situated nearest the cover or the dwelling of the woodman; indeed, they have frequently visited us, and seized the first fowl that came within their reach, especially if they had strayed a distance from home. Many instances have occurred, when the old farm-yard cock, the father of a numerous progeny, after

taking his many wives over gates five-barred,' has been seized and borne away into the dense cover, notwithstanding his loud but unavailing cries, which have sent his companions homewards in a tremendous hurry and alarm. Some years ago, I had a remarkably fine game-cock, from the celebrated breed of the late Earl of Mexborough: he was seized in the way just described; the alarm was given; I seized my gun, took a steady aim, and pulled the trigger; the shot took effect; the thief was laid prostrate on the ground. The bird, liberated from his grasp, jumped on the body of the fox, clapped his wings, and crew right lustilya sufficient proof of the famous breed of Methley. The necescity of providing food for a young and perhaps numerous offspring is greater with regard to the fox than to any other animal known in this country. This peculiarity arises from the nature and propensities of the species. The badger is extremely affectionate towards its young; so, also, is the fox. Many instances have occurred to my own knowledge, to prove the truth of this remark; but there is prevalent, with regard to the fox, a peculiar degree of savageness-sometimes even to the loss, apparently, of that affection which is cherished in all quadrupeds."

"It is a common opinion," observed one of the strangers, "that if, in his nightly rambles, the parent fox fails in bringing home a supply of food to satisfy the cravings of hunger, its own cubs will deprive their parent of existence. Is there any truth in that remark?"

"I think," replied the woodman, "that it is somewhat questionable; but the assertion has been boldly maintained, and its truth is said to have been confirmed. For instance: many years ago, a bark-stripper, who was occupied very early in the morning on the outside of a very intricate cover, saw an old fox returning home with a fine goose upon her back. The bark-stripper watched the proceedings. A large haystack stood near the wood side, and this spot was within a short distance of the earths, which were formed in an extremely dense and rocky locality. The old fox placed the goose on the ground close to the stack, and dashed into the thick underwood. The bark-stripper descended from the tree, took possession of the prize, and retired to mark the result. The old fox had evidently gone for the purpose of fetching the cubs; for, in the course of a few minutes, they all appeared outside the cover, and she conducted them to the very spot where the goose had been deposited. She found that it was gone, and evinced the utmost degree of anxiety and alarm, hurrying about in every direction. The bird could not be found, and the cubs, disappointed of their expected supply of food, flew at the mother and tore her to pieces. So goes the tale; but I cannot, so far as my own experience goes, vouch for its correct

ness.

Nevertheless, I can, in other respects, speak with certainty as to the affectionate care evinced by the old fox towards her cubs. Frequently, on a fine summer evening, have I climbed into a tree which overlooked the entrance to the earths, a short distance from which there was an open green spot, but surrounded by the thick.' I have seen the old vixen slowly emerge from her home; and after looking cautiously around and attentively listening, her cubs have followed her. She has led them to the open space alluded to; and they have commenced their playful gambols in the most joyous manner possible, tumbling each other

about; sometimes placing themselves in a row, and commencing the game of leap-frog, like a merry lot of school-boys; sometimes, as there is said to be one fool in all large families, chasing such unfortunate member about in the roughest manner possible, as if to arouse its dormant energies; while the old fox, sat upon her haunches, has marked with a parent's fondness the playfulness of her children. But, on the least note of danger being heard, a low whiffle from her has been instantly obeyed, and they have all disappeared in the den.

"The way, too, in which an old fox will encounter a large toad, which he may happen to meet with in the ridings, is rather curious. He will place both his fore feet beneath the body of the toad, and pitch it twenty or thirty feet high; repeating this operation very rapidly until the unfortunate toad is either disabled or killed. Yet I never saw a fox encounter a hedge-hog.

"But reynard, although extremely cunning and cautious, is not destitute of other qualities. When the evening twilight is spread over the earth, and the woods have assumed a deeper gloom, and the notes of the feathered race, from the pheasant to the woodpecker (which always retires to roost the first), and from the raven to the jay, are wholly hushed or faintly heard, and the drowsy tinklings lull the distant folds, the rabbits will leave their several burrows, situated on the margin of the cover, for the purpose of feeding in the open. The fox, bent upon his prowling expedition, may then be dimly discerned stealing along the broad riding, or taking a shorter cut along a narrower path, to reach the feedingground in question. But, in approaching the outside of the cover, and placing himself between the enemy and his retreat, he exercises remarkable caution. His head is bent close to the ground, his body crouched, his steps are as silent and stealthy as those of the cat; and, thus advancing, he is enabled to reach the proper distance for springing upon his victim, which he very rarely fails to secure, or by intercepting their retreat. But, however dexterous in securing his prey, reynard is not so reckless or forethoughtless with regard to his resources as many persons generally imagine. If he has been feeding upon a rabbit-the hind quarters, for instance-at a distance from home, he will not leave the remainder for either the vermin or the rapacious birds; but, carefully pulling the skin over the flesh for the purpose of keeping it clean, will bury it in some loose earth, and fetch it next day. Two foxes, also, will sometimes act in concert. I know an instance of this sort with an old hare that had frequently bid defiance to, and eluded the speed of the best greyhounds. One of these, knowing where the form of this hare was situated, aroused and hunted her like the best-trained harrier, and forced her up the long wood-riding. Now, his companion had placed herself in ambush about half-way up. On came the hare at a rapid rate. The fox last-mentioned rushed at her, and missed her; but the hare was turned into the very teeth of the other; and thus was effected by stratagem what the greyhound had failed to accomplish by speed.

"No doubt," concluded the woodman, "the race of foxes would be entirely destroyed in this country, if they were not strictly preserved for the purposes of the chase-the most animating, the most exciting of all the sports of the field; producing vigour of frame, and that delightful elasticity of mind, which are peculiarly enjoyed by the true follower of hounds, to whom the recital of the habits of reynard seem

to be always interesting. The deep and permanent interest attached to the pursuit is amply manifested by the fact that in England alone upwards of a hundred packs of hounds are constantly kept. Exclusive of the subscription packs, many country gentlemen keep their own hounds at a very considerable expense. Nor would the establishment of a first-rate nobleman be considered perfect without the fox-hound kennel, with all its appliances-hounds, hunters, huntsman, whips, the kennel-men, grooms, stable-helpers, &c., down to the earth. stopper; thus happily blending individual employment with the pleasures of a manly and noble diversion, no less peculiar to this country, than characteristic of the true Englishman.

"Well would it be for those who are immured in the impure atmosphere of manufacturing industry, if they would take every opportunity of visiting the scenes embraced in what I have been describing, spots where instruction may be obtained, as well as pleasure promoted. Let them forsake, as occasions serve, the smoke and din by which they are surrounded, and seek the advantages of recreation in the pure country; not merely diving into the intricate depths of the wood, sauntering along the margin of streams, lingering where some pleasant nook invites their footsteps, or climbing the mountain height to meet the Goddess of Health face to face; but seek information from every object which meets the eye, particularly in ornithology and botany studies which abound with an interest that never tires from its novelty, or satiates from its variety. They will, depend upon it, return to their respective vocations with a frame of renewed strength and energy, and with a mind rendered more elastic and vigorous to encounter whatever obstacles it may be found needful to surmount; so that business will become a pleasure, and spirit and enterprise achieve still greater wonders, amid the stimulus of the most determined rivalry and competition."

The information thus given to the stranger-visitors could not fail to be highly acceptable; nor the occasion to be remembered even amid more stirring, but more worldly scenes, which the crowded manufacturing towns and the dense marts of trade invariably present. If the one abounded with the greatest interest, the other was cherished with undiminished pleasure-both embraced the peculiar attractions presented in the scenes described, with that hospitable and generous feeling which has found a home even in the densest woodland scenes; and both, too, redolent of the purest gratification, because forming a portion of that existence which derives its greatest pleasure by a residence amongst, and a participation in, the scenes and enjoyments of a country life.

This well-known trophy, of which an engraving appears in the present number, is now in the possession of Mr. Morris, having been won by him with his horse Kingston, beating Teddington and Weathergage, in the Second October meeting of the past year. Shortly after this event, attention was drawn, through the medium of the Times newspaper, to the question of its history. Some armorial bearings, engraved on the handle, were then described; and, from having some doubts on the subject, the writer of this article, a short time since, obtained the favour of a personal examination of the prize, when no question remained as to the identity of the party by whom it had been anciently given to be run for. The arms, which are shown in the engraving, are those of Thomas Lennard, fourteenth Baron Dacre, who was created Earl of Sussex, October 15th, 1674. He died at his seat at Chevening, in Kent, now possessed by Lord Stanhope, in 1715, and lies buried with his ancestors, the Lennards, in the church at that place. He was, early in life, initiated into the vices of Charles the Second's profligate court, one of whose natural daughters, by his adulterous intercourse with Lady Castlemaine, he married. He was of a gay, a sporting, and a spendthrift turn, and unhappily for his family, devoted to that curse of society, the gaming-table, and which cost them, as it has cost others, the loss of many a broad acre and goodly grove; and yet, though reduced in fortune by his follies, and confessedly a betrayer of his trust as regarded them, he was not a bankrupt in reputation, nor did he hazard a stake which, like some of the swindlers of the day, he knew that if losing he had no power to pay. The noble mansion of Herstmonceaux,