130 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



that have been hunted, and are too cunning to 

 over-fill themselves with food, although it does 

 sometimes happen, probably by picking up a 

 wounded bird, or something just before they go to 

 their kennel for the day. But these are accidental 

 circumstances ; and when in such a state, foxes are 

 shortly killed, although the day before it would 

 have taken the same pack four hours to kill, even 

 if they did at all, and with a good scent ; for, as 

 before asserted, there are foxes which, when fit to 

 go, can beat any hounds ; and that these foxes 

 are not known, is to be accounted for by their 

 stealing away, and hounds not being on terms do 

 not know much about them as to their stoutness. 

 Many foxes are also often abused, and pro- 

 nounced great brutes, etc., and that the sooner 

 they are killed the better, in order that they may 

 go and find a good one, merely because the fox 

 hangs in cover, and runs rings in it for half an 

 hour or more. This is no proof of his being a 

 bad one, but often the reverse ; for by this time 

 the ground gets stained where the hounds have 

 been over it once or twice, and the pack do not 

 continue to press him as at first, and he gets time 

 to lighten himself; and then, being fit to go, he 

 takes the open country and rarely is beaten, but 

 has given those gentlemen's horses sufficient work 

 for the next week, who abused him in the morning. 



