472 HUNTING. 



hounds by long draws, on days which bid defiance 

 to sport. It was once justly observed, that those 

 who seek pleasure from the chase must ask permis- 

 sion of heaven ; and the case still remains the same. 

 Hounds without a scent resemble a man running in 

 the dark ; neither can make head against such 

 fearful obstructions ; and on stormy days, with a 

 I very high wind, if you have influence with your 

 master, persuade him to let you go home after the 

 first failure. It is not generally known what mis- 

 chief even one such day does to some hounds. . 

 \ Don't set too high a value on blood, unless well i 

 j earned ; it is the result of want of reflection alone \ 

 j that has set any value w^hatever upon it, when 

 I otherwise obtained. Mob a bad fox in a cover if 

 / you like ; but never dig out a good one, unless your 

 f hounds have almost viewed him into a spout, and 

 I you can bolt him before the excitement subsides. 

 Never break ground in a country belonging to an- 

 other pack of hounds, nor dig for a fox in a main 

 earth in your own. Many a bitch fox, heavy with 

 young, has been killed by this means in the spring, 

 instead of the one that was hunted and marked to 

 ground ; and be assured that sportsmen in general 

 do not estimate the goodness of a pack of hounds 

 by the noses nailed against the kennel door. Lastly, 

 keep your field back from pressing on your hounds 

 in chase, and still more so when in difficulties, as 

 wtU as you can ; but don't suff'er your zeal to carry 

 you too far on this point. Remember the apostolic 

 precept, " be courteous."" 



The modern annals of sporting contain the names 



