THE FOXHOUND. 195 



I take it to be inferior to deer-driving, and I think that infe- 

 rior to any field sport I ever participated in. De gustibus 

 non "Every man to his liking." Until the matter is 

 tested and the contrary established, I shall believe that 

 such a pack as the Wild Goose pack is reputed to be can 

 kill red foxes anywhere, on any ground fit to be run over 

 by Hounds. 



The speed of the Foxhound appears to be rather greater 

 than the speed of the best race-horse. There is, however, 

 very little authentic information on this point. I can state, 

 as a matter of experience in riding to Hounds, that I have 

 never seen a horse that could keep pace with a good pack 

 of Hounds for a single mile across country. I have seen 

 only a few Hounds which seemed nearly equal to a red fox in 

 speed, if the fox was at his best. I have never seen a pack 

 kill a red fox unless they could keep him hard-pressed 

 from start to finish; and in general, when I have seen kills, 

 I have thought the Hounds had the advantage in bottom 

 rather than in speed. The fox is a gluttonous feeder, and 

 if full-fed he is taken at great disadvantage. I doubt if 

 any pack can kill a good specimen of the red fox if in the 

 pink of condition, running on favorable ground. As a gen- 

 eral principle, I think the fox has rather greater speed, the 

 Hound rather greater endurance; and they are so nearly 

 matched in both respects that the issue of the chase is in a 

 great degree a question of condition. 



Rough, uneven ground is favorable to the fox, and sel- 

 dom indeed is one in good condition killed by a pack when 

 the chase is over rough, uneven country for a greater part 

 of the distance. If the premises here stated are accurate, 

 the conclusion follows that only a skilled huntsman, who 

 knows how to make the conditions favorable to the pack, 

 and to put the Hounds in the very best condition for the 

 race, has any chance to make kills, unless the fox has the 

 misfortune to be gorged with carrion when the start is 

 made, or is in some other way sick or out of condition. It 

 appears to me, therefore, that some Northern fox-hunters 

 have fallen into error as to the superiority of Northern 



