LETTER XIX. 205 



moving. Masters of hounds seldom complain of too 

 many foxes — it is a fault on the right side, and soon 

 remedied; but it requires great attention and care on 

 the part of the huntsman and whipper-in to prevent their 

 hounds changing, v^^hich will invariably be the case where 

 game is plentiful. A hunted fox and a blown deer are 

 two distinct animals as to their scent at that particular 

 period. The first diminishes as the other increases in 

 the chase. Although foxes in the same country very 

 much resemble each other, there are not two exactly 

 alike, and this, as well as other appearances which dis- 

 tinguish the hunted fox, will direct in some measure 

 both huntsman and whipper-in. Where foxes are too 

 numerous, by hunting. the same covert once a week they 

 will soon disperse, or you may have the earths put to in 

 the morning, instead of being stopped over-night. When 

 I have had several foxes on foot in the same covert, I 

 have also opened the earths, to let some of them in. It 

 is better, I think, to do this, than rattle a favourite place 

 too often ; for, unless centrally situated, your foxes may 

 be driven away into another country, or, by seeking 

 shelter in hedgerows, be killed by shooters or coursers. 



No animal is more shy than a fox ; they soon shift 

 their quarters, when disturbed, and although they may 

 visit the same covert in the night from which they have 

 been driven by hounds, they will not lie there during the 

 day for some time to come. Old foxes, in particular, 

 are difficult to find when the regular hunting season 

 commences. 



I remember having a most severe run with a good old 

 fox, which saved its life in a rabbit pipe, and by the 

 entreaties of a friend who was up at the finish he was 



