174 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



if the hounds go the contrary way, or do not seem to 

 come on upon the line of him, to halloo no more. With 

 regard to its beino; the hunted fox — the fox which 

 every man halloos, is the hunted fox in his own 

 opinion, though he seldom has a better reason for it 

 than because he saw him. Such halloos as serve to 

 keep the hounds together, and to get on the tail 

 hounds, are always of use : halloos of encouragement 

 to the leading hounds, if injudiciously given, may 

 spoil your sport. I am sorry to say, view halloos fre- 

 quently do more harm than good : they are pleasing 

 to sportsmen, but prejudicial to hounds. If a strong 

 cover be full of foxes, and they be often halloo'd, 

 hounds seldom take much pains in hunting them : 

 hence arises that indifference which sometimes is to 

 be perceived in fox-hounds while pursuing their game. 



You ask me, If I would take off my hounds to a 

 halloo ? If they be running with a good scent, I most 

 certainly would not ; if otherwise, and I could depend 

 upon the halloo, in some cases I would ; for instance, 

 when the fox is a great way before them, or persists 

 in running his foil ; for such foxes are difficult to kill, 

 unless you endeavour to get nearer to them by some 

 means or other. When you hunt after them it will 

 frequently happen, that the longer you run, the farther 

 you will be behind. 



If hounds be out of blood, and a fox run his foil, 

 you need not scruple to stop the tail hounds, and 



best if left quite alone ; and there are days, when they can do nothing 

 without assistance. Let them be assisted at no other time. On a bad 

 scenting day, or when hounds may be over-matched, you cannot assist 

 them too much. 



