34 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



Cub-Hunting 



It is a mistake to put off cub-hunting till late in 

 the autumn, when the intention of it is to reserve 

 the foxes till the season begins, particularly in 

 game countries. Some men are content to let a 

 whipper-in go round with the keeper to be shown 

 a litter of cubs, which being done, they have a 

 present made ; but it is a great chance if the cubs 

 are ever seen afterwards. The hounds had better 

 go once round to every doubtful litter, as early 

 as they possibly can for the corn, — and even 

 before it is cut, if a whipper-in by standing on 

 that side can keep them back out of the corn. 

 Few men are half sufficiently aware of the great 

 necessity of moving foxes that are known of, by 

 a day's cub-hunting. They are not easily found 

 by fox-takers afterwards, or by keepers, for they 

 beat out from home after they have travelled a 

 little in consequence of being disturbed, etc. 



It is necessary in the hot weather in September 

 to go out cub-hunting as soon as it is light, and if 

 it can be over by eight or nine o'clock so much 

 the better. By way of change the writer has tried 

 it in the afternoon instead, leaving the kennel 

 probably at four o'clock, and commencing about 

 five or six in the evening, which makes it a more 

 agreeable job than getting up in the middle of 



