148 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



ing to a noble Duke when they were drawmg a 

 large cover. His Grace politely expressed his regret 

 that it was a bad cover to get away from with 

 hounds ; the reply was that generally the best runs 

 are from such covers, as the fox can get away with- 

 out being headed as they are in small covers, when 

 every tailor out wishes to get a view of him. 

 During this conversation a fox broke away from 

 the other side, and they got well settled to him 

 and after a good run killed, which is not often the 

 case when found in this way ; for the fox has time 

 to prepare himself, and will hang about the cover 

 until he is fit to go, during which he is abused as a 

 dunghill brute, etc., but when he does go, catch him 

 who can. But the same fox which has beaten hounds 

 into fits almost, if he had been whipped up out 

 of his kennel in a bit of gorse, would not have stood 

 a burst of twenty minutes. A little observation in 

 the upper countries may prove the above, for if a 

 fox hangs about in a bit of gorse for half an hour 

 or so before he breaks, it takes a great deal to kill 

 him, though the pack were close at him when he 

 started. And there are foxes that can beat any 

 hounds, if they have time to prepare themselves, 

 and have a fair start. 



In most covers there is a favourite quarter which 



