78 



it is not surprising they should be slow in responding 

 to the former. Hounds have a musical ear and a discord 

 by horn or voice is much the same to them as a rate. 



When a fox is found a cheer helps to get hounds 

 together and lessens the chance of dividing. The 

 moment a "holloa away " is sounded the huntsman should 

 get to the point of exit as quickly as possible mth special 

 notes of horn and voice. On arrival at where the fox 

 has left and with three or four couples on the Une he 

 should go away at once and not wait for the stragglers, 

 but by keeping the horn going the others v,ill quickly 

 join up. Never wait a moment for hounds either when 

 going away with a fox or drawing a covert blank, as 

 they hate to be lost or left behind. Perhaps a minute 

 or two may be allowed after a blank draw for the hounds 

 furthest away, but if the huntsman always waits out- 

 side till the pack is complete, some members of it will 

 get into the habit of dawdling. The call on these 

 occasions should be entirely different to when a fox 

 has gone away, a long note on the horn is the usual 

 intimation to come away without the need for flying. 



The majority of huntsmen have definite ideas as to 

 the part of a covert in which they are Ukely to find a 

 fox, and although they may be frequently right they 

 are hable to miss the chance of a run by not trying the 

 unhkely portion. It is very annoying to covert owners 

 and keepers to hear a fox has gone away when hounds 

 have dra\vn blank. Every portion should be drawn 

 carefully and thoroughly. 



In the late afternoon the drag of a fox on the way to 

 his kennel has generally faded away, and if he does 

 not move there is no scent to indicate liis location, so 

 that hounds may pass within a few yards without 

 winding him. 



