1 88 FOX-HUNTING 



difference, and the stronger the scent, the better 

 they like it. A pack that is well in blood, not 

 by chopping foxes in covert, but after long and 

 hard runs, is able to appreciate that its success 

 has been gained by sticking to one scent, whether 

 it be weak or strong. I think a fox's scent 

 changes and grows weaker as he becomes ex- 

 hausted, which is proved by the old hounds then 

 running at the head. The young are not tired, 

 but they do not recognise what the change in 

 scent portends, and only notice that the delicious 

 perfume which thrilled their nerves at first has 

 lost some of its power. You will see by this 

 argument that it is most important you should 

 keep your hounds to one fox, and not allow them 

 to change until you have either lost or killed. 

 Of course, you might say that is every hunts- 

 man's object ; but both professional and amateur 

 generally wish to oblige the field, so that when 

 a hunt is becoming tedious you gallop off to 

 another covert. There is no harm in a huntsman 

 wishing the followers of the hunt to enjoy them- 

 selves, but he must not sacrifice the welfare of 

 his pack to that wish. He would probably like 

 a smart gallop as much as any one ; but if he 



