SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 87 



not aver that every young hound when first entered 

 would grapple with his foe in deadly conflict, un- 

 aided by others ; but by the 1st of November, 

 when thoroughly acquainted with the game they 

 are to pursue, we expected each individual to do 

 his duty in this respect single-handed, agreeing 

 with the old adage, that " Catch is a good dog, but 

 Holdfast is better." 



Some masters, from disinclination to get up, as 

 they call it, in the middle of the night, have had 

 recourse to cub-hunting in the evening, when, Avith- 

 out inconvenience to themselves, they can see how 

 the young hounds enter. There are, however, 

 many objections to this mode of proceeding. Scent 

 becomes worse always towards nightfall. There is 

 no drag to a fox's kennel, and other game is begin- 

 ning to move about without being disturbed by 

 hounds. Cubs also are leary, and can stand a deal 

 more rattling at this time than in the morning. 

 We don't think this of much consequence after the 

 second or third day's hunting, for, although at first 

 advocating an easy victory, and an early return to 

 kennel, we consider a little harder work, when 

 used to their game, of great benefit to the entry, 

 by which their stoutness and resolution are to be 

 tested. Cubs cannot always be brought to hand 

 just at the moment they are needed, and by con- 

 tinual changing from one to another, hounds may 

 be running for two or three hours before catching 

 one ; and the great drawback to evening hunting 

 is that, in addition to the scent becoming worse 

 every hour, the shades of night are falling around 



