86 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



Lying — That part of a cover in which foxes are 

 generally found — probably coppice wood of 

 about two years' growth, or furze, etc. 



Laid Up — When a vixen fox has had cubs, she is 

 said to have laid up. 



Main Earths — Large earths on which foxes gener- 

 ally breed, being difficult to get out. 



Metal — When hounds are very fresh, and fly for 

 a short distance on a wrong scent, or without 

 one, it is called " all metal." 



Moving-Scent — When hounds get on a scent that 

 is fresher than a drag, it is called a moving- 

 scent ; that is, the scent of a fox which has 

 been disturbed by travelling. 



Mobbing a Fox — Is when a fox is taken unfair 

 advantage of, surrounded, and killed, although 

 he had strength left to show sport if he had 

 been allowed to go away. 



Mute— Hounds run mute when the scent is so 

 good that the pace they go prevents their 

 throwing tongue ; but if a hound always runs 

 mute, it is an unpardonable fault, even if in 

 every other respect he is the best hound in the 

 pack. The better he is, the more harm he does. 



Noisy — "When a hound throws his tongue without 

 a scent, he should be drafted. 



Open — When a hound throws his tongue he is said 

 to open on the scent. 



