754 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



The first day a cover is hunted, where there are plenty of 

 foxes, and blood is wanted, they ought not to be headed 

 back into the cover, but allow some of them to get off, 

 otherwise with continual changing, and sometimes running 

 the heel, it is probable the hounds will not kill any. It 

 may also be necessary to exercise another precaution, which 

 is, to stop such earths only as cannot be dug ; if foxes 

 earth, and blood be wanted at last, it will then be known 

 where to get it. Young foxes which have been much dis- 

 turbed, are sure to lie at ground, and consequently the earths 

 at such times should be stopped three or four hours before 

 daybreak, when the animals are in search of food, otherwise 

 no foxes will be found. 



The judicious sportsman will take care not to draw covers 

 near the kennel, while foxes can be found elsewhere. By 

 such a precaution, foxes will be got there, when they can be 

 had nowhere else, especially when hounds go out late. Nor 

 should they be much disturbed after Christmas, as foxes will 

 then resort to and breed in them, and from their contiguity 

 they can be protected with little trouble. 



In situations where foxes are plentiful, there is no occa- 

 sion for fixing an early hour of meeting. Where foxes are 

 weak, by hunting late they give better chases ; but when 

 strong, the advantage of an early hour should be given to 

 the dogs. When the hunt is late, the pack should be im- 

 mediately led to the spot where they are most likely to 

 find, and that is, in those covers which have been least fre- 

 quented by dogs. In cases where a fox is not found, a 

 long and tedious day is the consequence ; and where the 

 cover is thick, particularly from the prevalence of furze, it 

 should be drawn slowly : at a late hour of the day, a fox is 

 very likely to keep his kennel, until hounds come close up 

 to him. 



