104 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



of the fox, before the pack, and bring them to a 

 check ; or crossing the line of another fox, etc. 



Notwithstanding this, a pack of skirters would 

 be as likely to kill their fox the first year, if not 

 more so, than any other ; and it may be often 

 remarked that a new pack kill more foxes the first 

 year than any other year afterwards, — which pack 

 consist principally of draft hounds ; consequently, 

 many are skirters, probably half the pack ; but as 

 they are strangers to the country, they do not 

 skirt so much, but hold together better ; and 

 always being at work as they are (in their own 

 way), against so many heads a fox has not much 

 chance. The success may also be in some measure 

 partly attributed to a new pack not entering 

 many young hounds the first year. 



Hounds that dwell too much on the scent, or 

 that throw their tongues when behind the pack in 

 chase, should also be drafted. 



Bitches are generally more unsteady than dogs ; 

 but if either are not broken from it the first year, 

 they seldom become perfectly steady afterwards. 



The sooner bitches are put to dogs after the 

 first of January the better, as few packs are strong 

 enough to spare many bitches early in the season ; 

 and when they do, they generally feel the differ- 

 ence, that is, if the bitches are worth breeding 

 from ; therefore it is much better to have a greater 



