40 THE FOXHOUND 



order of an English hunt was in 1877, when 

 ten couples of hounds were imported and drag 

 runs were made on Long Island. They afford- 

 ed probably more amusement to outsiders than 

 to the participants, who were caricatured and 

 held up to ridicule by the press. However, this 

 sport found favor in the eyes and hearts of the 

 riders of the East, and soon drag hunts were 

 had near many of the Eastern cities. Thus a 

 desire for cross-country riding was created 

 which has developed into successful hunt clubs 

 in the East. 



It has never been popular in any other sec- 

 tion of the country, and absolutely unknown in 

 the South. A Southern hunter would as soon 

 think of gratifying his sporting ambition by 

 tossing up a dead bird bought in the market 

 and shooting at it as by running a drag, and 

 the devotee of drag-hunting considers many of 

 the foxhunting customs of the South and West 

 equally absurd and amusing. 



Hunting in America requires an altogether 

 different hound from those used in England, 

 conditions being very dissimilar. Hounds re- 

 quire superior hunting ability, wide ranging, 

 greater perseverance and patience, and above 

 all a much better nose to enable them to take 

 an old and cold track probably made the day 



