FOX-HUNTING 51 



" ravishing perfume " of scent and the taste of blood, 

 he will seldom " run riot." 



The tyro who intends to hunt cannot do better than 

 go out for a few mornings' cub-hunting. It may not 

 be pleasant to tumble out of bed into a cold bath in 

 the small hours, but the ride to covert in the fresh 

 air of an Autumn morning more than compensates 

 for the previous discomfort. But besides the enjoy- 

 ment begotten of the early ride, and the feeling of 

 superiority to the lazy people in bed, the tyro will 

 gain three advantages : he will get himself into con- 

 dition, he will get his horse into condition, and he 

 will learn the rudiments of hunting. Certainly he 

 will not get a quick gallop; in any case his horse 

 will not be in a condition to gallop. Nor will he be 

 called upon to jump ; indeed, the fences are so " blind," 

 i.e. covered with foliage, that it would be dangerous 

 to jump them, for neither horse nor rider can tell 

 the nature of a blind fence. We have always 

 regarded the cub-hunting field as the best school in 

 which to teach the young rider, the young horse, the 

 young hound, and the young fox how to hunt. 



Although we have already dealt with the subject of 

 subscriptions, and laid down general principles in regard 

 to their amount, we have not answered the question 

 which is often asked us in much the same words as 

 these : " I do not intend to hunt regularly ; I do not 

 care to see my name in the subscription list opposite to 

 a small amount, but I do not want to hunt for nothing, 

 and am willing to contribute my quota towards the 

 expenses of the sport. What am I to do ? '' In most 

 hunts they have a poultry fund, separate from the 

 ordinary hunt fund, for the purpose of compensating 

 farmers and others for the loss of poultry destroyed by 



