CHAPTER L 



The Foxhound 



T what period the foxhound got its distinctive title in England 

 is not very clear for as late as 1735 there is no such word in 

 the Sportsman's Dictionary. Under the words "Fox hunt- 

 ing" all that refers to the fox and his capture is given and 

 here it is stated that "the fox is taken with hounds, grey- 

 hounds, terriers, nets and gins." Greyhounds were used to "course 

 him on the plain," and the two other methods used were fox hunting above 

 ground and hunting the fox under ground, which was done with terriers. 

 In the description of hunting above ground the dogs are simply called hounds 

 and the custom then was to have them in couples and not to put the entire 

 pack into the covert. "At first only cast off your sure finders and as the 

 drag mends so add more as you dare trust them, avoid casting off too many 

 hounds at once, because woods and coverts are full of sundry chases and so 

 you may engage them in too many at one time. Let such as you cast off 

 at first be old, staunch hounds which are sure, and if you hear such a hound 

 call on merrily you may cast off some others to him, and when they run it on 

 the full cry cast off the rest." So also in hare hunting the word hounds is 

 only employed and under the word "harriers" we find nothing but a 

 hound, "some are for the hare, the fox, hart, polecat, weasel, coney, buck, 

 badger, otter, etc., some for one, some for another. Nay, amongst the va- 

 rious sorts of these dogs, there are some apt to hunt two different beasts, as 

 the fox at sometimes and at other times the hare, but such as stick not to 

 one sort of game, hunt not with that success and good disposition as the 

 others do." 



It was soon after this book was published that the celebrated Mr. 

 Meynell established the Quorn hunt and he made a practice of entering his 

 hounds at the hare and when perfect in that sport put them to fox hunting. 

 It is probable that some who kept packs of hounds had individual ideas as to 

 using the entire pack in the covert even at that time, but it could hardly have 



been considered the best practice or it would have been referred to in the 



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