HUNTSMAN 17 



large covers, where the object is to get away 

 with one, or to make him fly or die. Although 

 foxes are apt to hang in these covers, it appears 

 easy to prove that the smallest pack — say seven- 

 teen couple — ^has the advantage in many ways ; 

 and is more likely to make a fox fly, or kill him, 

 than a pack of twenty-five or thirty couple. In 

 the first place, a large cover generally holds more 

 than one fox, often several ; therefore, as a small 

 pack is more likely to keep together when running 

 in cover than a large one, there is less chance of 

 changing, for it is impossible for a large pack 

 to keep together long, when the ground is stained. 

 The tail hounds have no scent to lead them on 

 to keep pace with the forward hounds, conse- 

 quently, when a little behind they cut across to 

 get to them when they turn, and, in doing this, 

 often cross the line of another fox ; when, owing 

 to there being so many hounds behind, they make 

 so great a cry, that if it happens the leading hounds 

 check at the time, it is ten to one but that they 

 join the tail hounds, which would not have been 

 the case if only one or two, or a few only, were 

 running the fresh fox, as there would not have been 

 such a crash. Consequently, when a fox is pressed 

 so much, he will often fly ; but had they once 

 changed, it would have been different, and he 

 would have stayed in cover probably ; besides 



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