FOX HUNTING IN AMERICA 



HISTORY OF FOX HUNTING INTRODUCTION OF ENGLISH FOX- 

 HOUNDS PRIVATE PACKS BRUNSWICK FUR CLUB — THE 



NORFOLK THE MIDDLESEX — THE MEADOWBROOK THE 



WARRENTON COUNTRY — THE ROSE TREE HUNT. 



"C^OX hunting in America began — well, to be accurate, "In 

 ■*■ the beginning," or as the old time historians were fond 

 of saying, "at a time in the history of the nation to wliich 

 the memory of man runneth not contrary." If foxhounds did 

 not come over in the Mayflower, it was very soon after. At 

 any rate they were introduced into Virginia by the earhest set- 

 tlers. British army officers brought hounds with them to this 

 country, as they have done to every other country to which they 

 have been sent, whether their mission was one of peace or war. 



Many persons in both the southern and New England 

 states are fond of repeating to this day family traditions 

 to the effect that some progenitor at some time brought, or had 

 sent over, to tliis country, a few Enghsh foxhounds, or "hunt- 

 ing dogs" as they were generally termed. 



In England they originally hunted with mixed packs. The 

 southern or bloodhound, that hunted entirely by scent, was 

 depended upon to drive or follow the chase in the thicket, 

 while the speedier greyhound, which runs entirely by sight, 

 took a hand when the game was driven into the open. The 

 crossing of these two ancient families with a view of producing 

 a combination dog with speed, nose and tongue, developed the 

 present Enghsh foxhound which, at the time of the first im- 

 portations to this country, must have been a family with 

 an}i;hing but a fixed type. 



This country was so large and people lived at such great 



