30 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



which the fox is gone, on the left ; but still he holds 

 them first the unlikely side. 



Sheep are often great enemies to fox-hunting, 

 more particularly in the upper, or rather the grass 

 countries ; but if a huntsman keeps his eyes open, 

 this obstacle to sport can be much lessened. For 

 if a fox crosses a field in which sheep are, as they 

 are quick-sighted and timid, they invariably show 

 by the situation of some of them that they have 

 been frightened ; and some will be seen in a line 

 with their heads all the same way, or they will 

 form a line all across the field, with their heads 

 in an opposite direction to the part where the fox 

 passed, which part will be clear of sheep. But it 

 also sometimes happens that young sheep, after a 

 fox has gone by, follow his line to the spot where 

 he went through the fence. It should also be 

 borne in mind that a fox is not likely to be headed 

 by sheep, as he is in the constant habit of crossing 

 through sheep at night, which is proved by the 

 tracks in snow. Consequently, a huntsman will 

 do well, generally, to hold his hounds on beyond 

 the sheep as soon as they have made their own 

 swing ; nor deviate from this, even when there is 

 a good scent, for on these days the scent of the 

 sheep and cattle is equally stronger, — one cause for 

 the assertion that the scent in these countries is 

 overrated. 



