HORSES AND HOUNLS. 293 



into corn-bins or corn-sacks, these proofs may sometimes be 

 V\'anting, 



There are, however, many other signs which are known to old 

 fox-hunters. They generally run down wind, but, being ignorant 

 of their country, have no point to make, and appear to loiter 

 before the hounds. The scent also is too good — the hounds 

 running wild at it. I am alluding now to bag foxes when 

 turned down before harriers, for I am quite sure, that any good 

 pack of fox-hounds would not run a bag-fox at all, unless hal- 

 looed on and encouraged ; and then even they would not enjoy 

 the scent, which is so different from that of a wild fox. 



I heard once of an old fox which had been caught and hunted 

 three times in one season by a pack of harriers, and found his 

 way home each time, having been turned loose thirty miles 

 from the earth where he was taken. This was in " days of auld 

 lang syne," when the fine greyhound fox was the prevailing one 

 in this country. We are very particular in these times to have 

 horses and hounds both of the best blood, and in first-rate con- 

 dition, but not the slightest attention is paid to the breed of 

 foxes, which is of rather more importance than at first sight 

 may appear. To show sport the breed of foxes should not be 

 overlooked so much as is generally the case, for without good 

 foxes you cannot have good runs. The large importations of 

 French foxes have in many hunting countries done a great deal 

 of mischief. This little red species is quite distinct in its habits 

 and character from the old greyhound fox, and will never show 

 any sport at all until they are three or four years old. They 

 seldom go far from home, and when found, eitlier hang to the 

 coverts or make short rings, running more like hares ; neither 

 have they the strength or power to stand long before a good 

 pack of hounds. 



Many think a fox is a fox, and that every fox ought to run ; 

 but there is as much difference almost in the breed of foxes as 

 in the breed of dogs; and I am quite satisfied that many 

 countries with which I am acquainted require a cross in their 

 foxes as much as they do in their hounds. It may be asked 

 where these greyhound foxes are to be found. Without injuring 

 or robbing any hunt, they may be procured from the Highlands 

 of Scotland, where numbers are annually destroyed by the hill 

 keepers ; also from some parts of Wales, and some parts of 

 Devonshire on the coast, where fox-hounds are not kept. They 

 may also be imported from Germany. ^\lien I first began keep- 

 ing fox-hounds, I obtained several young foxes of this species, 

 and, by judicious management, they afforded excellent sport. 

 They were turned into a head of earths in the best part of our 



