294 HORSES AXD HOUNDS. 



country, four to an earth, and there fed regularly until the 

 month of September, when they were old enough to shift for 

 themselves. The earths were always left open when we drew 

 the coverts in which they had been placed, as they were intended 

 for stock, and it was not my purpose to kill one of these foxes 

 during their first season. They were, however, of a very ram- 

 bling disposition, and after Christmas, we found several of 

 them many miles from their homes. Some were unavoidably 

 killed, but the greater part were saved by going to ground ; and 

 thus a foundation was laid, which lasted the many years I kept 

 hounds, and perpetuated a good, hard-running race of foxes. 



The second season these foxes afforded us extraordinary sport, 

 for, being ear-marked, we knew them when brought to hand. 

 For many seasons I continued to turn down two or three litters 

 of these foxes, to add to the stock, treating them in the same 

 manner as the first. I could have procured French, or the small 

 species of red fox, at half the expense and trouble ; but, ex- 

 cept ^ for the purpose of blooding hounds, I would have 

 nothing to do with them. To prove how necessary it is to in- 

 fuse fresh blood of the true sort, I may add, that since my 

 relinquishing the country, few of this true breed now remain, 

 having since been mixed with the red fox, and that is now the 

 prevailing fox of the country. The true greyhound fox is of a 

 light grey colour, bushy about the head, long in the body, and 

 stands high upon his legs. The bulldog fox is the next in size 

 — of a reddish grey, and common in most fox-hunting countries. 

 These will afford good runs also ; but the greyhound breed is 

 far superior to them in every respect. 



On one occasion I met with a large dark-coloured fox, with a 

 yellow breast, instead of white, at the extreme point of our 

 country, which ran about eighteen miles, but not straight. _We 

 found liim on a bad scenting day, with a hot sun and keen wind, 

 in the month of February ; running was out of the question, but 

 we held on to him for about six miles into a large covert in the 

 centre of our country, where we got upon better terms, and after 

 a turn or two round the big wood, he turned his head for home 

 again, which he nearly reached, when being headed he retraced 

 his steps, making again for the large covert, which he was des- 

 tined never to reach ; for waiting in a small brake we got up 

 with him, and he was pulled down within one field of the large 

 wood, myself, hounds, and fox, jumping the last fence together, 

 over which we tumbled in company, a large stake having run 

 up between my horse's shoulder and ribs, which had nearly 

 proved fatal to him. By the application of plenty of hot 

 water, and by keeping the wound open with a long candle, 



