1 6 GAME ANIMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



In Ohio and in others of the Middle States, foxes are said to be 

 hunted as follows ; On an appointed day the whole population of 

 the neighborhood turn out and enclose as large a tract of country 

 as possible, all hands leisurely advancing toward some point near 

 the centre of the circle ; as they advance all the noise possible is 

 made that the game may be driven before them. When the circle 

 is quite small and the foxes are seen running about looking for an 

 opening by which to escape, small boys are turned in with direc- 

 tions to catch the animals, a task which is not accomplished with- 

 out a good deal of exertion and perhaps a bite or two. When a 

 fox is caught it is sold to pay the expenses of the hunt. 



Fox hunting as practiced in " merrie England" was transported 

 to this country as early as the middle of the eighteenth centur}-. 

 In the mother country it has attained a most important position 

 among the national sports. A fox hunt there is one of the great- 

 est pleasures accorded to the titled gentry, and the scene is often 

 graced by the presence of some fair equestriennes who will even 

 take part in the chase. Horses are bred for the purpose and a first- 

 class hunter commands a large price. 



Fox hunting first came generally in vogue in Great Britain some 

 two hundred years ago, and was introduced into Virginia perhaps 

 a hundred years later. The old custom has been sustained with 

 difficulty through many vicissitudes up to the present day. 



The topography of our southern country, however, prevents the 

 use there of the orthodox English fox hound, since the heavy tim- 

 ber lands and high fences would effectually prevent keeping a pack 

 of these dogs in view. We need a slower hound, and this the F, 

 F. V.'s, fond of this branch of sport, have procured by crossbreed- 

 ing with the old English hunting stock. Fox hunting thus prac- 

 ticed has been confined almost exclusively to the South, particularly 

 Virginia. Many planters of leisure and means were accustomed, 

 avant la giterre, to keep a number of hounds for no other purpose, 

 and with the best riders of the neighboring county periodically held 

 their " meets," when with horn, whipper-in and all other accom- 

 paniments, according to true English fox hunting rules, they would 

 proceed to start Reynard and follow him to the death. Since the 

 war, however, the demoralized condition of many sections of the 

 South, and the greatly impaired fortunes of the former participants 



