148 HUNTING. 



by the huntsman if he comes upon hounds eating carrion, or 

 finds a litter of cubs in a hollow tree or stool, and wants his 

 whipper-in to assist him and drive the hounds away. It should 

 be understood that when he is sitting still and blowing discords, 

 the whipper-in or some of the field should go to him. 



In large woodlands the huntsman should draw everything, 

 and closely, as otherwise he may leave a fox in some unlikely 

 corner. When the coverts are small they should be drawn 

 down wind, to avoid the chance of chopping a lox. A few 

 cracks of a hunting whip or a gentle touch or two on the horn 

 should put a fox on his legs, and the down-wind side being 

 kept clear of horse and footmen he should have a chance of 

 going away. One of the most annoying things in hunting is 

 the chopping of foxes. If small coverts are near together and 

 they have to be drawn down wind, some quick-eyed servant of 

 the hunt, or some keen and observant sportsman who can be 

 trusted, should be sent on down wind. He must conceal him- 

 self so as not to head the fox, and yet be able to command 

 a good view of the country. In the event of his seeing a fox away 

 he should gallop back and hold his cap or hat up or otherwise 

 attract the huntsman's attention. It is no use sitting and 

 halloaing down wind with the result of making the fox hurry 

 himself whilst the huntsman and field do not hear the halloa. 



• Now as to the huntsman's duties when the fox is afoot. 

 Having made sufficient noise with voice and horn to get the 

 hounds together and keep them together whilst in the woods, 

 and also, I often think, to frighten the fox into seeking the open 

 country, the huntsman should then subside and be as quiet as 

 possible. As to telling a man what he should do when hounds 

 come to a check after running hard — say, twenty minutes — it is 

 impossible ; but the first thing to do, if happily no horsemen 

 were near them when they checked, is to leave them alone and 

 let the hounds swing and cast forward, back and round ; then 

 the huntsman must exercise his keenest sense of observation 

 and his natural intelligence. Of course, if there is a plough 

 team or an old woman sitting on a stile right in front, the pro- 



