32 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



of fox-hunting axe held as paramount by every honour- 

 able chief of the noble science. 



In days of yore, when countries were very extensive, 

 which was the case with the Old Berkeley and others, 

 some of the present observances were not altogether 

 necessary. Of these may be mentioned the etiquette 

 observed of not digging for a fox which had been 

 marked to ground beyond the limits which they were 

 accustomed to draw. In many parts of the kingdom 

 there were not any hounds kept; therefore such inter- 

 mediate districts might be regarded as neutral, and it 

 would not have been considered any infringement of 

 right to get at foxes which might run into that neutral 

 ground, by any available means. The prevailing taste 

 for fox-hunting has occasioned the establishment of 

 hounds in almost every part of England ; and thus, 

 when countries were divided, subdivided, new portions 

 hunted, and foxes preserved for the express purpose of 

 sport, it became necessary to adopt rules whereby the 

 limits were to be defined, the coverts of each hunt 

 specified, and the observances to be practised in the 

 event of one master of hounds finding his fox in his 

 own and pursuing him into the country of his neigh- 

 bour. To these points, indeed, the rules of the chase 

 are almost exclusively confined. 



As there is not any national club or society of 

 masters of fox-hounds to regulate these affairs, after 

 the fashion of the Jockey Club on racing subjects, the 

 observances are only kept in force by the feelings of 

 mutual respect which bind gentlemen to the perform- 

 ance of those principles which are essential to the com- 

 mon weal, and are consiequently handed down by word 

 of mouth. Every master of hounds considers it 

 incumbent on him to maintain the rights and privileges 

 of his country for his own benefit and the promotion of 

 sport, also that when he resigns he may leave it inviolate 

 to his successor. Every landed proprietor possesses a 

 legal right to authorize any master of hounds to draw 

 his coverts, or to prevent any one from entering them, 



