60 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



whatever manoeuvre a fox resorts to the first time of 

 his bemg hunted, if it proves successful to his escape he 

 will, if possible, adopt on future occasions. I will now 

 introduce a few circumstances in corroboration thereof. 



Several years since I was hunting with the Albrighton 

 hounds in those very severe woodlands, the Ran Dans, 

 on the borders of the Worcestershire country- and 

 neutral with the two hunts. They found a fox, and 

 ran him upwards of two hours. These hounds had on 

 previous occasions found a fox which always beat them. 

 The Worcestershire hounds had experienced the same 

 disappointment. The fox invariably persevered in 

 working round the wood, and when the hounds arrived 

 at a particular spot they always came to a check of 

 considerable duration. At length it was determined to 

 watch that point, which was at a division in the covert 

 where a very strongly plashed hedge extended a dis- 

 tance of two or three hundred yards and connected the 

 two portions of the woods. It was there discovered 

 that the fox had gained so much advantage by running 

 along the top of this fence, and no doubt laid himself 

 up there till the hounds had passed him, when he 

 retraced his steps and regained the thick under-wood 

 behind the disappointed pack. This stratagem being 

 detected, the hounds were laid on in view, which 

 caused him to break covert; and in a short time they 

 ran into him. 



On the 8th of Februarj^ 1851 I met the Vine hounds 

 at West Heath. They found a fox at Tadley Place, and 

 after a short ring ran him to Eyeford, where he ran the 

 plantations and covert for some time. On the boundary 

 of the covert there is a large pool of water with tumps 

 of earth or little islands, separated from the banks by 

 deep water ; there are also many sedges, rushes and 

 tufts of rank grass, similar to those which generally 

 grow in such situations. The hounds brought a ven," 

 cold scent up to the margin of this pool, and, as I wa,s 

 close to them at the time, I observed one hound throw 

 his tongue in angry mood, as if he had seized his fox. 



