INTRODUCTION 



terest to the hunting man of to-day that we feel constrained to put certain 

 facts before the readers of this book, most of whom, we are well aware, will 

 differ with us in their final conclusions. 



The conditions in England differ widely from those in America in the 

 following particulars : first, in the quality of the climate, which makes a dif- 

 ference in the scenting conditions ; second, in the conformation of the country 

 hunted over ; third, in the nature of the quarry, and fourth, in the method of 

 hunting it. 



To take up the differences singly — the climate of England is such that the 

 ground is apt to be in a much damper condition than that of America ; and 

 being so, scent " lies " better and hounds do not require such tenderness of 

 nose as some scenting conditions in America seem to require. Second, the 

 conformation of the average hunting country in England is such that it is 

 easier for a Field to follo%v hounds than in America. Third, foxes in Eng- 

 land are much more plentiful and, in our opinion, much less wild than in 

 America. In England foxes are protected by popular feeling, and cared for 

 from birth, to a certain degree, whereas in America, or at any rate in the 

 greater portion of it, the fox is considered vermin and has to shift for himself 

 from the first. On the other hand, foxes in England are hunted more amd, 

 by reason of the earth-stopping, cannot go to ground, and must run for their 

 lives. Finally, we come to the fourth and last point of difference ; the method 

 of pursuing the sport. How does the average American huntsman set to 

 work ? He goes out at daybreak and draws, not coverts, but fields — open 

 fields — till some one of his hounds hits on a "feed-trail," perhaps five or six 

 hours old. The hound promptly gives tongue — the rest of the pack may 

 hark in to him or they may not, according to their taste (a bad trait in the 

 American hound); and in any case they go on hunting along at two miles 

 an hour till they " jump " their fox ; or if, as is often the case, he has gone 

 on they keep at it all day. Very different this, from the other method, 

 where one either draws a covert blank and goes on to draw again ; or finds 

 and gets a run. 



Now then, having stated these facts, which are conceded by all hound- 

 men, let us take a look at the situation. If a man wants to go out and sit 



