35 2 HUNTING PRELIMINARIES. 



We consequently find that in several hunts, a day every now 

 and then, and especially during cubbing time, has to be 

 devoted to obtaining blood and bustling foxes about in woods, 

 dingles, and other places where it would be impossible to get a 

 good gallop. If this were not done, the country people would 

 have to keep down the number of foxes by less legitimate 

 means. The best way to make foxes quit big woods at short 

 notice, is for hounds, when they kill, to break up their fox in 

 the thickest part of the covert. 



Fig. 227. Hedge,' 3 ft. 6 in. high. 



A form of blood-giving which I do not like to see, even if it 

 be necessary, is that of surrounding a covert, when cub-hunt- 

 ing, and attempting to drive back cubs which try to break 

 out and escape. The strict hunting theory is to let all 

 but one cub go ; but sometimes he goes too ! The fear 

 that a change of law would injuriously affect hunting, has 

 undoubtedly been the cause of the Act against cruelty 

 to animals being confined to those which are kept under 

 domestic conditions. In Ireland, the necessity for blood is 



