SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 3 67 



although they certainly appear to possess this 

 knowledge. 



When being hunted, foxes as well as hares 

 distinguish the distance between themselves and 

 their pursuers, and if not pressed in the chase, 

 seem to draw their conclusions that they may take 

 liberties on such occasions by loitering on their 

 course, or running back the foil. It is no un- 

 usual occurrence to see many foxes chopped before 

 getting on their legs during the hunting season. 

 We remember once in particular, w^hen drawing a 

 thick blackthorn brake, a hound, named Pugilist, 

 by Mr. Osbaldiston's Pontiff, making a dead stand 

 at a bush. Being a capital hound, as true as steel 

 to a fox scent, we knew, of course, no other ani- 

 mal could be there. We stopped on our horse, 

 waiting to see the issue. The hound stood for a 

 second or two more, when, springing into the bush, 

 he rolled the fox out of it on the other side, and 

 before I could jump off my horse had killed him. 

 This fox, save for Pugilist's perseverance in work- 

 ing about this thick stuff, when the other hounds 

 had dashed forward, would have been drawn over ; 

 and it had been better to have so happened than 

 die ignominiously without a run for his life. It, 

 however, goes to show how very closely foxes will 

 lie in gorse-brakes or very thick underwood ; and 

 therefore it is necessary to impress on the mind of 

 the second whipper-in that he is to keep a respect- 

 ful distance whilst liounds are drawing such places, 

 and never interfere with them when they appear 

 busy in any particular spot. 



