FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



for the average man cannot travel very far or fast 

 on an empty stomach. People, of course, vary 

 in this respect, but a bite of something in the 

 middle of the day does more good than going 

 without until the return home. There is no 

 pageantry about fell fox-hunting. The hunts- 

 man's coat alone lends a splash of colour to the 

 scene, for the field are clad in a variety of mufti 

 garments, from knickerbockers to fustians. It 

 was the immortal Jorrocks who said, ' ' I never 

 see a man with a pipe in his mouth and a thick 

 stick in his 'and without thinking there goes a 

 chap well mounted for 'arriers." Had the sport- 

 ing grocer ever visited the fells, however, he would 

 have found that a pipe and a stick usually ac- 

 company the local fox-hunter when he sets out for 

 the meet. The huntsman is assisted by a 

 whipper-in who makes his way out to the fell 

 top, taking with him a hound or two and some 

 terriers. These hounds are usually some of the 

 fastest members of the pack such as will 

 " sharpen" a fox should the whipper-in get a 

 chance to " lowse " them. If there be more 

 than one fox afoot the pack may divide. In 

 this case the whipper-in will follow one lot and 

 the huntsman the other. 



Most of the dalesmen, shepherds and quarry men 

 are keen hunters, and delight in a good fox 

 chase. They are often of the greatest assistance 

 to the huntsman, both during the course of a 

 run and when hounds have put their fox to ground 

 in some strong earth. In the Shires nine-tenths 

 of the field " hunt to ride," and if you asked the 

 average member to tell you the names of any 

 hounds in the pack he could not do so. On the 

 fells the reverse is the case, for people go out to 

 hunt, and the locals know the names and idio- 

 syncracies of every hound. 



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