SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 199 



hares, rabbits, and other game which pointers and 

 setters will find and stand at some distance ; and 

 drawino' over a fox is no uncommon occurrence. 

 On this account, when feasible, the draw should 

 be up wind, thus giving hounds every chance of 

 finding their game. This is not of easy accom- 

 plishment in our own time, from fixtures being 

 made generally the previous week, and therefore 

 we cannot follow Beckford's advice in this particu- 

 lar, as he suggests, by not going out hunting in 

 bad weather, unfavourable to hounds and scent. 

 We are obliged to take the rough with the smooth, 

 and whilst one pack may by good luck get the 

 best days for their sport, another may fix upon the 

 worst, as it rarely happens that two days in suc- 

 cession are equally bad. Although unable to do 

 as Beckford did, there is no necessity, when the 

 elements are combined to mar sport, and when 

 hounds really can do nothing, to persevere in draw- 

 ing coverts, and finding fox after fox to no purpose. 

 Such a proceeding is not only disheartening to 

 hounds, but wanton, by spoiling a good draw for 

 another day. Moreover, foxes finding they cannot 

 be pressed, acquire the bad habit of running short. 

 It does so happen sometimes that an unpropitious 

 morning is succeeded by a fine afternoon ; but 

 when the day turns out badly about twelve o'clock, 

 there is rarely any improvement afterwards ; and 

 there are days — and many too — during the season 

 when hounds and horses would be much better at 

 home. 



We do not wonder that huntsmen get out of 



