Sir, Bear, bull and badger baiting (letter, September 16) were gratuitous acts of cruelty on captive animals deprived of their natural avoidance strategies and for no other purpose than betting, competition and spectacle. Quite rightly, these have been abolished, but in no sense can these practices be equated with the hunting of a free-living wild animal with all its natural avoidance strategies in place.

Hunting or being hunted is entirely natural to wild animals. What might be a devastating experience for Man or even a domestic animal is part of daily life in the wild.

Yours faithfully,
LEWIS H. THOMAS,
(Secretary, Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management),
Smiths Cottage, North Heath, Chieveley, Newbury RG20 8UA.
September 16

From Mr R. Ferguson

Sir, I congratulate Anatole Kaletsky on his analysis of how Labour has revived the class war (Comment, September 16). Indeed, your chief economic analyst seems to demonstrate a greater understanding of animal welfare than the Director General of the RSPCA (letter, same day). I would have suggested that Ms Jackie Ballard tries her hand at highlighting economic trends, but I suspect that her sights are focused firmly on Whitehall.

Yours faithfully,
RORY FERGUSON,
The Old Rectory,
Ashdon, Essex CB10 2HP.
September 16.

From Mrs George Bird

Sir, One of the misconceptions in the foxhunting debate is that it involves a clash between town and country.

I have lived the greater part of my life in the country and I am a strong opponent of the so-called sport. So also are most of my friends and acquaintances here, including a local farmer, who says that no one who has seen the damage that a pack of hounds can do in a field of pregnant ewes could possibly be in favour of it.

Yours sincerely,
MARGARET BIRD,
2 Cleave Mill, Sticklepath,
Okehampon, Devon EX20 2NH.
September 15.

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