SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 389 



other such places with which he is acquainted. That 

 is generally the course pursued by what we call 

 hard-running foxes ; and it is marvellous what an 

 extent of country they travel over in their nightly 

 peregrinations at a particular season of the year. 

 There can be no question that both foxes and hares 

 do not exhibit such stoutness in running as in 

 former days, and the cause is obvious : they are 

 generally too numerous and too well fed at home 

 to be under the necessity of travelling very far for 

 companionship or food. All experienced sportsmen 

 know although reluctant to admit the fact, for fear 

 of the numbers being diminished by unfair means 

 that for hunting, game should be rather scanty to 

 afford good sport. 



The great drawback to foxhunting is the 

 changing of foxes (crossing the line of a fresh one), 

 when save for this misadventure the run would have 

 been complete. There are what we call ringing 

 foxes as well as the straight-running. The former, 

 however, are generally vixens, and therefore their 

 lives ought to be spared. But when a dog-fox is 

 detected in such shortgoings, a couple of hours are 

 well spent in securing his scalp ; for having once 

 beaten hounds at such tricks, he will never improve 

 upon further acquaintance. Kill this sort of animal 

 by all manner of means fair or foul. Mob him, 

 hustle and holloa him to death as soon as possible if 

 you can; and we forgive you taking every advantage 

 of this mar-sport, short of spoiling your hounds in 

 your effort to obtain his spolia opima, since he 

 generally brings discredit upon his family by 



