THE HOUND 59 



hounds are under good control, many foxes will 

 escape that might otherwise have been killed. 



I am sorry to notice that many packs have 

 now very little music, and I consider this a great 

 fault. It must eventually tend to breed mute 

 hounds, and a hound that runs mute is a rogue 

 who will spoil you many a good run. There are 

 people I know who say that a silent pack will 

 get nearer to their fox, and this on the face of 

 it seems possible ; but we must remember that 

 nine out of ten good runs are down wind, and 

 the galloping of horses can be heard for fully a 

 mile down wind. If you allow your fox to get 

 more than a mile ahead, you will not be very 

 likely to catch him however silently the pack 

 may run. Hounds that have plenty of tongue 

 will always run better together and carry a better 

 head than those that are almost silent. When a 

 pack has plenty of music, you will very seldom 

 see four or five couple getting away by themselves, 

 which is one of the most annoying things that 

 can happen. Your run is certain to be spoilt, 

 for when you do find the truants, you will have 

 no means of ascertaining where they checked, 

 and if you allow the rest of the pack to hunt 



