156 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



the celebrated Dick Knight, and William Shaw, so long the excellent 

 huntsman of his Grace the Duke of Rutland : — 



"Monday, Nov. 14th, 1791. — The Pytchlcy hounds met at Lamport Earths. 

 After having finished their first fox, they drew Scotland Wood, where they found 

 immediately ; but, from the abundance of hares getting up before the hounds every 

 instant, and siaining the ground, they were completely foiled, and consequently Dick 

 Knight took them away, to find a fox in another cover."* 



We may also read of the same thing in the " Operations of the Bel- 

 voir Hounds ;" where the hares were so numerous ou one hunting day 

 in the neighbourhood of Belton House, that Shaw Avas obliged to take 

 the hounds home, it being perfectly impossible for them to work the line 

 of a fox through the multitudes of hares which Avere continually cross- 

 ing, and staining the groiuid as bad or worse than if twenty flocks of 

 sheep had been driven across the fields. 



Although it is generally, and pretty justly, supposed that the best 

 sport is shown by the best packs of hounds, still, Avith all the first-rate 

 management in the Avorld, and aU the pains that can be taken by the 

 most indefatigable and scientific sportsman, how much depends upon 

 good luck I One pack, for instance, may hunt three days a week, and 

 experience storms, fogs, and a series of bad-scenting days ; whilst the 

 hounds hunting the adjacent country the three alternate days may run 

 into the extreme of good luck, and kiU their foxes by the aid of a burn- 

 ing scent alone every day they go out. Nothing varies so much as 

 scent : we see sometimes that the afternoon scents prevail for days to- 

 gether, and that, v.'ithout any appai-ent cause, on the most inviting and 

 propitioiis-loohrng hunting moYniug, the men, horses, and hounds arc 

 more than half tired with dragging about a country for three or four 

 hours Avithout effecting anything, Avhen an afternoon fox is unexpectedly 

 found, Avhicli, OAving to nothing else but a change of scent, gives 'em 

 all such a tickler, as serves the Avhole field for conversation for the next 

 week, and their horses' amusement for a month, at least. Again, Ave 

 shall experience the best scents before noon for a fortnight together, 

 and not unfrequcntly ride home in a drenching rain or storm, Avhicli has 

 entirely set aside all chance of sport after twelve o'clock, at Avhich time 

 it began to " breio up," and was hanging in the air till dissipated by 

 the storm. 



Although natural land Avhich has never been furrow-drained is gene- 

 rally alloAved to afford better sport from its scenting qualifications than 

 soil in a very high state of cultivation, it was the opinion of Sir Tatton 

 Sykes that the Avoids in Yorkshire, over which country he was in the 

 constant habit of hunting Avith his own hounds, afforded better scents 

 than they had used to do previous to their being in so liigh a state of 

 cultivation. One i-cason Avhich he gave the Avriter of these remarks for 

 runs being straightcr than formerly, and for hounds being brought to 

 check more seldom than they had used to be, Avas from the system of drill- 

 ing the turnijis, Avhich, being in straight lines, Avas a great inducement 



* Extract from " Pytchley Chase-book." 



