130 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



that the hare-hunter will fail. 1 If they come to a long fault, it is over, and 

 you had better then go home. 



The many chances that are against you in fox-hunting : the changing 

 frequently ; the heading of the foxes ; their being coursed by sheep-dogs ; 

 long faults ; cold hunting ; and the dying away of the scent ; make it 

 necessary to keep always as near to the fox as you can ; which should be 

 the first and invariable principle of fox-hunting. Long days do great hurt 

 to a pack of fox-hounds. I set out one day last winter from the kennel at 

 half-past seven, and returned home a quarter before eight at night, the 

 hounds running hard the greatest part of the time : the huntsman killed 

 one horse and tired another, and the hounds did not recover for more than 

 a week : 2 we took them off at last, when they were running with a better 

 scent than they had had the whole day. I also remember, after it was 

 quite dark, to have heard a better view-halloo from an owl, than I ever 

 heard from a sportsman in my life, though I hope that I shall never hear 

 such another. A long day, nevertheless, once or twice in a season, is of use 

 to a huntsman : it shows the real goodness and stoutness of his hounds. 



When long days happen to hounds that are low in flesh, nothing will 

 get them up again so effectually as rest : it is for this reason, hounds, that 

 are kept constantly hunted, ought always to be, as sportsmen call it, above 

 their work. If your hounds, either from accident or inattention, should 

 ever be in the low condition here alluded to, be not impatient to get them 

 out of it : should you feed them high with flesh, the mange, most probably, 

 would be the immediate consequence of it : it is rest, and wholesome meat, 

 that will recover them best. It will surprise you to see how soon a dog 

 becomes either fat or lean : a little patience, therefore, and some attention, 

 will always enable you to get your hounds into proper condition ; and I 

 am certain that you can receive no pleasure in hunting with them, if they 

 be not. 



I forgot, in my Letter upon the feeding of hounds, to observe, that 

 such hounds as have the mange actually upon them, or only a tendency 

 towards it, should be fed separately from the rest ; they should have no 



1 It is at a time like this that good sportsmen may be of great service to hounds : it is the 

 only time when they want encouragement ; and it is (I am sorry to say) almost the only time 

 when they do not receive it. Those who ride too forward in the morning, will, in the evening, 

 perhaps, be too far behind, and thereby lose an opportunity that is offered them of making some 

 amends for the mischiefs they have already done. When hounds flag from frequent changes,- 

 and the huntsman's horse sinks under the fatigue of a tiresome day, then it is that sportsmen 

 may assist them. Such as know the hounds, should then ride up to them : they should 

 endeavour, by great encouragement, to keep them running, and get those forward that may be 

 behind ; for when hounds that are tired once come to hunting, they tie upon the scent, and, 

 by losing time, lose every chance they had of killing the fox : great encouragement, and proper 

 and timely assistance, only can prevent it. 



2 Hounds, after every hard day, should have two clear days to rest : it does them less 

 hurt to hunt two days following, when their work is easy, than to hunt, before they may be 

 perfectly recovered, after having been hard-run. 



