170 THE DLAJRY OF A HUXTS:\L\N 



borne in mind that a fox is not likely to be headed 

 bv sheep, as he is in the constant habit of crossing 

 tlirough sheep at night, which is proved by the 

 tracks in snow. Consequently, a huntsman ^-ill do 

 welL generally, to hold his hounds on beyond the 

 sheep as soon as they have made their own sA^ing ; 

 nor deviate from this, even when there is a good 

 scent, for on these days the scent of the sheep 

 and cattle is equally stronger, — one cause for the 

 assertion that the scent in these countries is over- 

 rated. 



In order to remove the obstruction (that of 

 sheep), in Leicestershire a plan has been proposed, 

 which, if adopted, may be of some avail — namely, 

 to raise a fund for the purpose of pa\*ing the farmers 

 who are willing to allow their shepherds to pen 

 their sheep in a comer, or part of a field, instead of 

 being spread all over it, from about half-past eleven 

 till three or four o'clock, for a certain distance 

 round the place of meeting. Few remedies are 

 ^nthout objections ; and to this there may be some. 

 In the first place, the shepherds who are to do this 

 aWII probably have dogs ; at all events they ^nll be 

 about, where before they were not, and will be 

 looking out for the fox, etc. Where shepherds 

 have dogs it Is found to be a great nuisance : so 



