FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



fox in this respect. Already weakened, and 

 with faiHng powers, the fox gives off but Httle 

 scent, thus the sudden shock of a halloa may serve 

 to still further weaken it, because the fox perhaps 

 puts on a spurt for a short distance, and by so 

 doing takes a lot out of himself. Scent is no 

 doubt more or less controlled by the nervous 

 system, and any sudden and unexpected shock 

 to the latter undoubtedly has an adverse effect 

 upon that aroma which appeals so strongly to 

 hounds' noses. 



While even the best of huntsmen and whippers- 

 in may make mistakes at times, being only human, 

 when they do so they are acting in an official 

 capacity, and generally have a sound reason for 

 their actions. Suppose for instance a whipper-in 

 halloas a fresh fox, thinking it is the hunted one, 

 his mistake is covered by the action of the hunts- 

 man. Then, if some officious person takes upon 

 himself to inform the man who carries the horn 

 that the fox is not the hunted one, he is likely 

 to be met with the reply, ' ' No ? then he d — d soon 

 will be ! " 



Any sudden shock to the nervous system of a 

 beaten fox, such as being coursed by a cur dog, 

 halloed at, or taking to the cold water of a stream 

 or lake, serves to more or less reduce the emanation 

 of scent. A heated fox entering cold water is 

 on a par with a man taking a cold bath. The 

 shock of the immersion causes an involuntary 

 shrinking from the liquid embrace, so that the 

 pores of the skin close, and in the case of the fox 

 his scent is shut off. At any rate we have known 

 many a hill-fox run hounds out of scent after 

 immersion in the cold water of a mountain beck. 



Suppose you view a fox and are certain he is 

 the himted one, then, if hounds are at fault your 



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