152 THE ANGLER AXD HUXTSMAX 



ing causing them to bowl over; the fox regained his feet, 

 paused for one breathless moment, then rushed headlong 

 into the whole pack, facing death with a courage unexcelled 

 by man or beast. 



Thus ended the day's sport, each hunter lamenting that 

 a fox so brave, so courageous, so fleet as this old red, had 

 but one life to live for the enjoyment of the fox hunting 

 fraternity. 



We could doubtless record many and varied hunts, and 

 probably another writer could record better ones, but the one 

 given above, we think, embodies the typical southern fox 

 hunt, than which there is no more entrancing and soul-] if t- 

 .ing sport this side of Eternity and High Heaven. 



In the North, they have fox hunts too, and they are in 

 nearly all respects just like those had in the South, only in 

 the North the hunters very frequently take along a gun and 

 shoot the fox whenever the dogs bring him within range. 



The Coon Hound: 



The coon hound is not a recognized breed, but should be. 

 Are all the years and generations of patient breeding 

 by coon hound enthusiasts to amount to nought? We sor- 

 rowfully admit the truth the coon hound breeder's efforts 

 have, so far, been in vain. We mean in vain, so far as glory 

 and honor are concerned; in vain, if these veteran coon 

 hound breeders are looking for mere applause and nothing 

 else. But happily, they are not looking for these empty 

 honors ; they did not start out to establish a breed of dogs, 

 but to adapt already existing breeds to coon-chasing; this 

 they have gloriously accomplished, and the only reward 

 they expected or asked is that they be allowed to hunt coons 

 with the dogs they have produced after years of toil by care- 

 ful crossing and careful handling. 



There is a widespread difference of opinion among dog 

 men as to the origin of the coon hound, some maintaining 

 even that the coon hound constitutes a distinct breed, while 



