INTRODUCTORY 



jumped up in front of the pack, faced the open 

 country and gave such a run that the young duke 

 thenceforth gave up stag and converted his pack 

 into foxhounds. But the modern hound of course 

 did not arrive as the result of a single crossing. The 

 conditions of fox-hunting in its early days indeed 

 did not require him, the runs v^ere probably 

 longer, but certainly much slower than in modern 

 times. Foxes were fewer, woodlands more exten- 

 sive, and game and poultry scarcer. The fox in 

 consequence had further to travel for a meal, and 

 knew intimately a greater extent of country than his 

 descendant to-day. He was a stout goer and gave 

 longer runs than in these days when in many coun- 

 ties there are too many foxes, degenerate from too 

 much food too easily obtained. 



On the other hand there were many conditions 

 which told against great pace. The meet and throw- 

 off always took place before sunrise, as early indeed 

 as it was possible to distinguish gate from stile. 

 This was necessary because the only way of finding 

 a fox was by following his " drag," that is the trail 

 he left on returning from his night's feed, which 

 disappeared after sunrise. Consequently old hunt- 

 ing records often begin with the remark, " We 

 breakfasted at midnight," and at Willey Hall, 

 Squire Forester's place in Shropshire, it was 

 usual for the guests to arrive the day before the 



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