HORSES AND HOUNDS. 177 



cheering and screaming, at sucli a time, thoiigli often done in the 

 excitement of the chase, generally i)roduce more harm than 

 good, and I have witnessed their ill efiects often. Hounds are 

 wild enough at that time, without any extra excitement. 



Upon leaving covert, I like to hear a huntsman cheery with 

 his voice and horn, and it is then of great service in getting his 

 hounds well together ; but when that is done, and the hounds 

 have settled down to the scent, the horn should be still, and the 

 voice too. The huntsman's head has then to be employed, and 

 he should be prepared for casualties. 



Knowledge of his country is of essential service to a hunts- 

 man in making his casts, or recovering a lost fox, as they 

 generally take the same line. In the early part of the season, 

 young foxes know little country, and will run short, hanging 

 about the earths and woods where they have been bred. Neither 

 will old foxes, at that time, unless hard pressed, leave their 

 home for any distance, often making wide rings, and returning 

 to the covert in which they were found. A knowledge of these 

 facts will direct a man of observant habits what to do when his 

 hounds come to a check. At this season of the year a forward 

 cast is least likely to recover the scent. After Christmas, and 

 when the clicking season commences, foxes travel very long dis- 

 tances, and afford good chases. If found away from home, dog 

 foxes will run straight to their native places, and, unless hounds 

 are quick after them, there is little chance of their being caught, 

 as, having an object in view, they put their best leg foremost, 

 and do not linger by the way. 



Although the hare is much swifter of foot than the fox, yet 

 the latter, having greater powers of endurance, can travel a 

 much greater distance in less time than a hare could. In speed 

 the fox-hound and his game are pretty much on a par, but it is 

 the superior power and condition of the former which enable 

 him to overhaul Mr. ReynaT'd in the long run. I have witnessed 

 many a race with my own hounds in the open, after a fox, but I 

 never, in any one instance, saw them beaten. 



I remember, some years ago, we had been running a fox, with 

 a middling scent (never being able to press him), for about 

 thirty minutes, when we came to a check in a road near a large 

 field of turnips, just on the verge ot the downs. Whilst trying 

 to hit the scent ofi, up jumped the fox in the turnips, about 200 

 yards ofi". In a moment there was such a hullahcdoo and 

 tally-hoing from the field, that the hounds caught sight of their 

 game as he was leaving the turnip field, and away they went, 

 helter-skelter, horses and hounds all together, straight over the 

 open. They gained upon their iox every stroke they took ; but^ 



