LETTER XI. 1 1 1 



years' growth and gorse coverts. In fine weather they 

 will often lie in turnip fields and hedge-rows. When 

 hunting begins, crafty old foxes generally resort to such 

 out-of-the-way places, and that is the reason they are so 

 seldom found, the young foxes always falling the first 

 victims. In drawing large coverts, the huntsman should 

 try first the most likely part of them, which will depend 

 in a great measure on the day. In stormy and windy 

 weather foxes will resort to the most sheltered situa- 

 tions ; but there are always favourite spots in all coverts 

 where they are most likely to be found, and these are of 

 course known to every huntsman who is acquainted with 

 his country. 



When thrown into covert, I like to see hounds spread 

 wide, and draw eagerly ; not one should be at the horse's 

 heels. Some men have a trick, and a very bad one it is, 

 of keeping a few couples of idle hounds dangling after 

 them, ready for a start, or to throw in when the fox 

 crosses the rides. Such a practice is very injurious to 

 the hounds so employed, and will make them careless 

 and of little value, when hard work is before them. Some 

 huntsmen also allow the first whipper-in to hunt the 

 hounds in covert, or rather to help draw with them, for 

 what reason I could never yet discover, except to save 

 themselves trouble. Such is not the business of a whip- 

 per-in, and more than that, he has no right to speak even 

 to a hound in covert, unless to stop or rate him. When 

 the hounds are drawing large woodlands, the place of the 

 first whipper-in is forward in some drive, ride, or cross- 

 ing, in the direction the hounds are trying — he will be 

 as silent as a mouse, and watch not only with his eyes 

 well open, but ears also, to see and hear all that is 



