194 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



is, that it can be kept out of the hands of "professionals" 

 and within reach of people of moderate means. 



If the view be correct that the English and American 

 red foxes, respectively, have developed the modes of the 

 hunt and the characters of the packs in the two countries, 

 we must look for any material differences between the 

 English and American hunt to the difference between the 

 foxes of the two countries. That in speed, endurance, and 

 stratagem, in front of a dangerous pack, the American fox 

 is greatest, there is little doubt. It follows that in speed, 

 bottom, a/id trailing the American Hound is superior to 

 the English. Of this I have, personally, not the smallest 

 doubt. I have seen many imported Hounds run in this 

 country, and they have been of undoubted excellence, but 

 never equal, over our country, to our best American 

 strains. This is in accordance with plain and simple com- 

 mon-sense. No doubt the English packs would excel ours 

 on their own ground, on all except speed. 



I do not believe, and I can not be made to believe, until 

 it is done, that the best pack in England can do anything 

 at all whatever with an Old Virginia red fox. It is not 

 believed by many of the fox- hunters of the Northern States 

 that any pack of Hounds can catch their foxes. I am 

 too strongly impressed by what I know of the difference in 

 the habits of the same species of wild animals in different 

 localities, to be willing to adopt an opinion adverse to the 

 prevailing opinions of competent observers in localities with 

 which I am not familiar. Nevertheless, I suggest to our 

 Northern friends that they are not familiar with the speed 

 of the packs in our best hunting country, and that their 

 mode of hunting by standing, after the manner of deer- 

 driving, and shooting the fox in front of the dog, would 

 soon utterly ruin our best packs. 



I do not take part in the harsh criticisms of the North- 

 ern method of hunting. I have no doubt Northern sports- 

 men enjoy their sport; and enjoyment is the object of all 

 sport. I have no doubt that it is the only way to kill their 

 foxes, as they protest. I do not think I could enjoy it myself. 



