540 MODERN FARRIER. 



weakened for want of his natural food and usual 

 exercise, his spirit broken by despair, and his limbs 

 stiffened by confinen^.ent ; he then is turned out in 

 open ground, without any point to go to : he runs 

 down the wind, it is true, but he is so much at a 

 loss all the while, that he loses a deal of time in not 

 knowing what to do ; while the hounds, who have 

 no occasion to hunt, pursue as closely as if they 

 were tied to him. 



Bag-foxes always run down the wind : such 

 sportsmen, therefore, as chuse to turn them out 

 may, at the same time, choose what country they 

 shall run. Foxes that are found do not follow this 

 rule invariably. Strong earths and large covers are 

 great inducements to them, and it is no inconsider- 

 able wind that will keep tliem from them. 



If a fox-court be kept for breeding foxes, it should 

 be every way well secured ; and they should be kept 

 very clean, and have plenty of fresh water and good 

 food, such as rabbits and birds. Horse-flesh gives 

 them the mange. If they are bred in the earth, 

 they should be regularly fed, or they will forsake 

 their holes and wander away. Furze covers cannot 

 be too much encouraged. If foxes be bred in an 

 earth which is unsafe, stinh them out : iliat^ or in- 

 deed a disturbance at the mouth of the hole, will 

 make the old one carry them off to another place. 



Hare-hunting. 



Hare-hunting is more generally relished than fox- 

 hunting. There are few countries where this sport 

 is not followed. The following excellent directions 

 for this kind of chase are chiefly from the pen of 

 Mr. Beckford. 



The hounds most likely to show sport are be- 

 tween the large slow-hunting harrier, and the little 

 fox-beagle : one is too dull, too heavy, and too slow; 

 the other too lively, too light, and too fleet. The 



