4*22 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



This sport has been admirably described by Mr. 

 Beckford, from whom we shall quote : — 



'' The hour in the morning most favourable to the 

 diversion is certainly an early one. The hounds should 

 be at the cover at sun-rising, 



Deliglatful scene I 



Where all around is gay, men, horses, dogs ; 

 And in each smiling countenance appears 

 Fresh blooming health, and universal joy. 



Now let your huntsman throw in his hounds as quietly 

 as he can, and let two whippers-in keep wide of him 

 on either hand, so that a single hound may not escape 

 them ; let them be attentive to his halloo, and be ready 

 to encourage or rate, as that directs : he will, of 

 course, draw up the wind. Now, if you can keep 

 your brother sportsmen in order, and put any dis- 

 cretion into them, you are in luck ; they more fre- 

 quently do harm than good : if it be possible, per- 

 suade those who wish to halloo the fox off, to stand 

 quite under the cover side, and on no account to halloo 

 him too soon ; if they do, he most certainly will turn 

 back again : could you entice them all into the cover, 

 your sport would, in all probability, not be the worse 

 for it. 



" How well the hounds spread the cover ! The 

 huntsman you see is quite deserted, and his horse, 

 which so lately had a crowd at his heels, has not now 

 one attendant left. How steadily they draw ! you 

 hear not a single hound ; yet none are idle. Is not 

 this better than to be subject to continual disap- 

 pointment from the eternal babbling of unsteady 

 hounds ? 



See ! how thev ran^e. 



Dispers'd, how busily this way and that 

 They cross, examining, with curious nose. 



