OF CASTING 215 



short and quick ; for the scent is then likely to be 

 behind you : too obstinate a perseverance forward, has 

 been the loss of many foxes. In heathy countries, if 

 there be many roads, foxes will always run them in 

 dry weather : when hounds, therefore, over-run the 

 scent, if your huntsman return to the first cross-road, 

 he probably will hit off the scent again. 



In large covers where there are several roads; in 

 bad scenting days, when these roads are dry ; or, after 

 a thaw, when they carry — it is necessary that your 

 huntsman should be near to his hounds, to help them, 

 and hold them forward. Foxes will run the roads at 

 these times, and hounds cannot always own the scent. 

 When they are at fault on a dry road, let not your 

 huntsman turn back too soon ; let him not stop, till he 

 can be certain that the fox is not gone on. The hounds 

 should try on both sides the road at once : if he per- 

 ceive that they try on one side only, let him try the 

 other on his return. 



When hounds are running in cover, if a huntsman 

 should see a fox come into a road, and cannot see 

 which way he turns afterwards, let him stand still, and 

 say nothing : if he ride on, he must ride over the scent; 

 and if he encourage the hounds, they most probably 

 would run beyond it. 



Wide ridings cut through large woods, render them 

 less exceptionable to sportsmen than they otherwise 

 might be ; yet I do not think that they are of service 

 to hounds : they are taught to shuffle ; and, the fox 

 being frequently headed back, they are put to many 

 faults : the roads are foiled by the horses, and the 



