108 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



" There were two scents," said Wood ; "but I am sure there have 

 never been two foxes before the hounds this morning ; it certainly did 

 apjjear very strange for them to divide as they did during the last ring ; 

 but we shall see." 



We dug down, and first of all found a huge polecat, and in a few 

 more minutes (the terrier still keejjing at work) the hunted fox. 



" Well done, Master ! " said Jack Wood, " you have got the best ear, 

 for a young one, I ever met with in my life. " 



1 felt half a foot higher upon the strength of such a compliment from 

 such a quarter. 



In the spring of the year hounds are frequently more inclined to be 

 riotous than earlier in the season, for the following reasons : — In the 

 first place, March winds are great promoters of wildness ; and, in the 

 next, the old Jack-hares smell so awfully strong, during that pecuhar 

 period, that old hounds, which were considered perfectly steady before, 

 have suddenly broke away, on hare scents, in the most determined and 

 ungovernable manner. Moreover, when there is any vice bred in young- 

 hounds, it is allowed by all huntsmen to show itself at that peculiar 

 season of the year. In the spring 1 have also frequently seen a pack of 

 hounds leave the line of a vixen fox and refuse to hunt her : this may 

 appear strange, but it is perfectly true ; and I have no hesitation in 

 saying, that nine old huntsmen out of ten will confirm Avhat I have 

 written, from their own experience. Another thing which contributes 

 to the rendering of young hounds, or even old ones, skirtcrs and shifty 

 in their work, as it is termed, is the practice of continually cub- 

 hunting them in gorse or whin covers, as they are enabled when dis- 

 tressed to come to the outsides, and meet the fox in the rides and rack- 

 ways. This, however, is unavoidable in some ojjen countries, where 

 this description of covers abounds Avithout any woodlands. Ko pack of 

 hounds can be made and kept steady, in my opinion, without a good 

 drilling, at the commencement of the season, in large holding woods ; 

 and 1 have no hesitation in saying that a pack which can do their work 

 as they ought to do in deep and extensive covers, running well to the 

 head, and driving abreast without tailing or skirting, would not fail to 

 cut a good figure, and give a good account of their foxes in any countiy. 



Owing to the large, ungovernable fields of horsemen which, in these 

 days, are in the habit of attending hounds, even from the very com- 

 mencement of the regular hunting season, I have always looked upon the 

 cub-hunting months to l)c by far the best time for a man fond of the 

 work of hounds, to indulge his venatic taste, without the danger of being 

 either himself ridden over, or having the greater part of his hounds 

 trampled down and destroyed. Long before I kept hounds myself, 1 

 was in the constant practice of beginning with the first morning's cub- 

 hunting, and going out i-egularly, through the summer and axitumn, 

 with the ])ack which hunted my neighbourhood in Warwickshire ; and 

 many is the run I have seen in those woodlands, which would not have 

 disgraced December, and many the fox killed when the lazy world were 

 snoring away their time in bed. Even when a schoolboy, 1 never lost 

 the oppO)'tunity, when it otl'ered, of runnino; on foot I'or miles to get a 



