66 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



hunting rabbits and so forth while they were at 

 walk, from having been brought up in towns, or 

 at farmhouses in villages, remote from woods of 

 any sort, and have therefore never had their 

 faces scratched until they began cub-hunting. 

 They have less opportunity, too, of indulging 

 in riot without being checked in a wood than 

 they have in a run in the open, when they may 

 easily get separated from the pack, and can then 

 chase hares, rabbits, or sheep to their hearts' 

 content, without being made to suffer for it. 

 Cub-hunting is the time when they must learn 

 that a fox is the only quarry they are permitted 

 to pursue, and that if they indulge in illicit 

 amusements punishment swift and sure will 

 quickly overtake them. 



The cubs, too, have to learn what hounds mean, 

 and that their best chance of safety is in flight ; 

 whereas if they find they escape by staying in 

 the covert they are likely to try the same game 

 again, when the real hunting season begins. 



Q. Is it necessary for the well-being of the 

 pack to kill cubs, or can the same end be 

 attained by merely bustling them up ? 



A. All hounds soon get slack if their quarry 

 constantly escapes them, for they expect it will 

 do so again, and when they get into difficulties 

 they cease to persevere. If, however, they are 

 in the habit of being successful they cannot 

 bear to be defeated, and will not give up till 

 it is absolutely necessary. At the same time 

 it is not well to kill a lot of cubs on one morning, 

 for they are all apt to tire together, after running 

 in covert for some time, and then can be mopped 

 up one after the other, without benefit resulting 



