132 FOX-HUNTING 



sensitive, and they will quickly distinguish the 

 different notes in your voice, if you are always 

 careful to use certain sounds for definite occasions. 

 Some huntsmen will cheer hounds when they are 

 merely drawing a covert ; but how they can 

 expect them to know when they are being cheered 

 on a scent is more than I can say. A cheer is 

 an inspiriting sound, and should be used only to 

 urge the pack to greater exertions at the end of 

 a long run, or to get them together in a covert. 



The great Mr. Jorrocks very truly remarks 

 that, according to the judgment of the public, 

 ' 'untsmen are either 'eaven-born or hidiots,' and 

 that * every schoolboy can criticise their perform- 

 ance.' I must say I like to see a man out hunt- 

 ing take sufficient interest in the proceedings to 

 watch what a huntsman does, and if he has been 

 out before, he ought to have an opinion of his 

 own ; but it is rather rash of him to criticise 

 when he can be only partially acquainted with 

 the circumstances of the case. It is generally 

 those who know least about hunting who are 

 ever ready to approve or condemn the methods 

 of a huntsman. 



The man who hunts a pack of fox-hounds 



