10 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



It requires a bold, far-jumping horse to cover all 

 in its stride. 



When an Irishman speaks of a " ditch " he 

 usually means a " bank " ! And when he talks 

 of a " double-ditch " (or " double," for short), he 

 is indicating a bank, with a ditch on each side. 

 A plain ditch he calls a " gripe." 



"Holding-up" a fox in covert means surround- 

 ing the wood, and preventing him from leaving 

 it by making a noise, or otherwise frightening him 

 back when he endeavours to do so. 



" Heading " a fox is getting in his way and 

 turning him from his direct line. 



A " sinking " fox is one whose powers are 

 leaving him in a run, through fatigue. 



A " beaten " fox is one quite tired out. 



A fox " runs short " when he begins dodging 

 about instead of continuing on in a straight 

 direction. 



" Chopping " a fox is when he is caught with- 

 out having an opportunity of giving a run. 



" Marking a fox to ground " is when the hounds 

 show that they know he is within by trying to 

 scratch the earth open, to get at him. 



Hounds " draw " a covert when they spread 

 themselves out to try and find a fox. They 

 " wind " him when they detect the scent, before 

 he has moved from his kennel. 



A "babbling" hound is one that is always 

 sriving tongue whether there is a scent or not. A 



mute" hound is one that runs on the scent, 

 without giving tongue at all. 



A " laggard " is a hound that is in no hurry to 

 leave the covert and join the others when they 

 go away after a fox. 



A young hound " enters " when he learns to 



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