LETTEH XXIV. 



It is a general remark that woodland foxes afford the 

 best chases. One reason is, that they always have a good 

 start before the hounds ; and another, that many of them 

 are strangers there, and have a point in view to run home 

 to. "Woodland bred foxes are often tiresome brutes, that 

 will hold to the covert, and wear out a pack of hounds, 

 by ringing round and foiling the ground so much that 

 the hounds cannot press them. A capital master of 

 hounds, who formerly hunted some very large woodlands, 

 containing two or three thousand acres each, was once 

 asked by a young and ardent sportsman, why he did not 

 force the foxes to fly. " Force them, indeed," exclaimed 

 the indignant master, " force your grandmother to suck 

 eggs !" 



Unless large woodlands are hunted nearly once a week 

 throughout the season the foxes bred there will not shift 

 their quarters ; but as now-a-days the fashion or fancy is 

 all for gallopping and pace, the favourite places, such as 

 small coverts, gorses, and spinies, are often called upon — 

 so often, indeed, that the foxes take refuge in the big 

 woods. To secure a good run, therefore, you must go 

 away, if possible, with the first fox that breaks ; he is 

 sure to be a stranger. 



A very famous master of foxhounds, quite at the head 



