42 THE FOXHOUND 



tuitive knowledge bordering on instinct of the 

 ways and habits of the fox and a well-defined 

 idea, based upon practical experience, as to just 

 what a fox is apt to do under various circum- 

 stances over which he (the fox) has no control. 

 A fair knowledge of the country to be hunted 

 is of great service, especially in " striking off a 

 loss," or " making casts," in the earlier 

 " checks " of a run. 



It is the judicious study of the individual 

 hound that distinguishes the successful trainer, 

 and his judgment must be called into requisi- 

 tion in training different hounds, as no iron- 

 clad rules can be laid down. In limited space 

 it is impossible to give the full detail neces- 

 sary to enable a novice to graduate a broken 

 trained hound. Only the fundamental princi- 

 ples can be touched upon. In fact, many in- 

 stances arise through idiosyncracies of individ- 

 ual hounds where no general rules can apply. 

 Common sense must be appealed to and spe- 

 cific treatment administered. 



In America we have no professional trainer, 

 every man is a law to himself, and few Ameri- 

 can hounds receive any except self-training. 

 The knowledge they obtain is by absorption 

 from contact with other hounds. Their nat- 

 ural instinct prompts them to hunt and trail; 



