32 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



to keep foxes if they are not hunted. And to 

 ensure sport, a man must be very judicious in 

 making his appointments, so as not to draw the 

 same cover too often, although pretty sure of 

 finding. And it is best not to name the fixtures 

 until the end of the week, for the week following, 

 as it is impossible to say which covers will not 

 be disturbed. And few, besides large-holding 

 covers, will bear drawing oftener than once in three 

 weeks, to be a tolerably sure find. And that 

 country, also, generally shows the best sport where 

 the outskirts are fairly hunted, equally with the 

 best parts of it, without regard to distance, because 

 the foxes go straighter, and vary the line of the 

 runs. The wildest and best will go where they 

 can be most quiet, which is generally in the most 

 distant covers, and, when found, go back into the 

 best country. 



But there are stout foxes which will not leave 

 the covers they are used to, beyond a few days ; 

 and constantly run the same line when found. 

 Such require extraordinary methods to beat them ; 

 and the following account of a run may be a 

 useful hint. 



An old fox had been found several times by 

 the pack belonging to the present writer, and as 

 invariably run a ring of about three miles, taking 

 a roimd of small covers ; by which he generally 



