Echoes of the Hunting Horn 



of their considerations in their selection of such is the 

 natural shelter provided against the biting wind. A 

 ground-wind when meeting any obstruction sweeps over 

 and upwards, forming an upward air current, as has 

 been demonstrated by the simplest principles of gliding. 

 As there is but scant scent from a sleeping fox, and as 

 there is no direct wind coming in contact with his body, 

 it is often extremely difficult for hounds to locate him, 

 especially in dense covert. Indeed, not infrequently, 

 hounds over-draw their quarry; and foxes who have 

 been disturbed by foot-followers or through some other 

 reason, have been seen leaving covert after hounds had 

 pronounced it blank. If those foxes had been really 

 clever they would have remained in covert and not 

 allowed anyone to know of their having outwitted hounds. 

 A fox who wishes to display his cleverness in such 

 manner is usually rewarded by a lusty " Tally-Ho, back." 



He is in real trouble now. Hounds are quickly on his 

 line and he is racing for his life. He is heading for the 

 safety of his earth. He is running free and unhampered, 

 whereas his pursuers must stoop their muzzles and suit 

 their pace to the facility or difficulty of following his 

 scent. When scenting conditions are good hounds can 

 pursue him at top speed, the scent is lying breast-high 

 and they have scarcely to stoop their noses for guidance. 

 On the other hand, when conditions are unfavourable, 

 their progress is accordingly slower; the scent is only 

 coming to them in intermittent, catchy whiffs, and they 

 must stoop their noses and puzzle out every yard of 

 their quarry's line. 



At such times a host of circumstances come to the 



72 



