In the Field. 73 



foot of "the line," tell you every "loss" or 

 "check," every "cast" made by each individual 

 hound, which hound "struck it off," and every de- 

 tail of the "running and trailing." Ask him about 

 his mount, how the field rode, character of coun- 

 try covered, and he will look at you in blank 

 amazement — this, the fox-hunter. 



Drag-hunting, however, has its devotees who 

 seem to extract much enjoyment out of it, and 

 for a business man chained to his desk, who can 

 only get away occasionally, and can not spare the 

 time necessary to successful fox-hunting, it is 

 doubtless an excellent substitute. 



Those who desire to try it will find the fol- 

 lowing an excellent drag: One-half ounce oil 

 anise seed, one-half ounce essential oil valerian, 

 one and one-quarter ounce castor oil. Hounds 

 must be broken to this scent, however. The bet- 

 ter plan is to keep foxes in a zinc-lined box or 

 cage, save the urine and drag a sponge or rag 

 well saturated with it. A sheepskin kept in same 

 box can also be used as a drag; either of these 

 are preferable to the anise-seed bag. 



Running a bag fox may be a harmless amuse- 

 ment, but it is a poor substitute and a base imi- 

 tation of genuine sport. I must plead guilty, 

 however, to the charge of having indulged in it. 



A bag fox will not run like a wild fox; even 

 though fresh and uninjured, they generally run 

 down wind ; and though hounds run them in only 



