124 FOX-HUNTING 



consider the question as it affects the huntsman, 

 both amateur and professional. 



In spite of Beckford's long list, there are still 

 many things that he has not mentioned which I 

 consider important. One of these is a know- 

 ledge of the ways and the habits of the fox or 

 whatever animal is hunted. The sympathetic 

 intuition of what a fox will do under certain 

 circumstances is partially instinctive, but unless 

 it be based on practical experience the con- 

 clusions arrived at will not be satisfactory. The 

 man who is well versed in the animal's habits 

 puts himself in its place and then thinks what 

 he would do under the circumstances. His 

 thinking must, of course, be instantaneous, and 

 he must be ready to put his theories to the 

 proof by prompt action. 



Any man with a good head on his shoulders, 

 who is a fearless rider, will show good sport 

 with a decent pack of hounds, and he will 

 be accounted a good huntsman by the majority 

 of the field. Nine days out of ten there will 

 be nothing to tax his skill, and on the tenth 

 day, if he is clever, he will find another fox, to 

 hide his incompetency in losing the hunted one. 



