34 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



drain which is open at both ends so that the terrier can 

 be entered at one of them, that process may be resorted 

 to ; but it is not permissible to cut a hole into the drain 

 so that the terrier can enter, because that would be an 

 infraction of the rule that the soil shall not be broken. 

 A fox may also be dislodged by the application of <a 

 wisp of burning straw to the opposite end of a drain, if 

 such a device will have the effect; or if the drain com- 

 municates with a pond of water he may be driven out by 

 letting the water flow. When a fox is found to be 

 making for an earth in another country, a whipper-in 

 may be sent forward to place himself in such a position 

 that he can head the fox back; but then he must not 

 stop the earth with turf, clods, stones, sticks, or any 

 such permanent impediments; neither is it right that 

 he should proceed to the place till the fox is on foot. 

 This last observance, upon reflection, is very proper; 

 because if it were otherwise, by stationing men at all 

 the earths they would be most securely blockaded. 



When in chase, if hounds run their fox into a covert 

 belonging to a neighbouring hunt, they (are justified in 

 pursuing their game ; but if they cannot carry the scent 

 into the covert, they must not enter, because although 

 it may be highly probable the fox has sought that 

 refuge, unless there is a scent to decide the point it is 

 possible he may have skirted it, and it would be an 

 inexcusable breach of decorum to make a doubt the 

 pretext for disturbing a covert belonging to another 

 hunt. 



The prerogatives which a master of hounds enjoys of 

 drawing the coverts, of stopping the earths, digging out 

 foxes which may happen to run to ground, and all such 

 matters, are conceded by the general consent of the 

 owners of the respective coverts; 'and although any 

 individual may, by authority of the laws of trespass, 

 warn him not to draw the coverts, such a course is at 

 variance with the conventional rules of fox-hunting, 

 and is therefore very seldom acted upon. A gentleman 

 resident in the country would be very reluctant to 



