FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



He has learnt by his first experience of hounds 

 that it is better to fly than stay, and so has ad- 

 vanced another step in his education. On his 

 return to the home covert, his nostrils are assailed 

 by an overpowering odour of human and canine 

 enemies, while the taint of blood lingers here 

 and there amongst the undergrowth. It is im- 

 possible under these conditions to settle down in 

 his old quarters, so, if the covert be a small one, 

 he leaves it to take up his abode elsewhere. In 

 large woodlands he searches out a fresh retreat, 

 far removed from the scene of his peril. 



First impressions are invariably the strongest, 

 so that the cub which escapes by flight, and the 

 one which eludes his pursuers by dodging and 

 twisting about in covert, are both likely to resort 

 to the same tactics when again disturbed by 

 hounds. The former will probably prove his 

 worth to the Hunt as a " straight necked 'un," 

 whilst the latter may develop into a short- 

 running, twistmg customer, most difficult to kill. 



As we have already seen, the cub's first im- 

 pressions of being hunted are the strongest, and 

 by whatever method he manages to elude hounds 

 he is practically certain to try the same plan again. 

 In the fell country of Cumberland and Westmor- 

 land, hunted foxes frequently travel long dis- 

 tances on the top of the stone walls. Even on a 

 good scenting day this manoeuvre delays pursuit, 

 but it is doubtful if the fox adopts it for that 

 reason. In winter, when the snow on the hills 

 lies soft and deep, the fox finds he can get about 

 more easily by following the wall tops, which are 

 often blown clear by the wind. Remembrance 

 of this tempts him to adopt the same plan when 

 the ground is bare. As far as eluding hounds is 

 concerned, the strategy of the fox is inferior to 



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