206 VIEW HALLOOS NOT TO BE 



ment to tlie leading hounds, if injudiciously 

 given, may spoil your sport. I am sorry to say, 

 view halloos frequently do more harm than good. 

 They are pleasing to sportsmen, but prejudicial 

 to hounds. If a strong cover be full of foxes, 

 and they are often hallooed, hounds seldom 

 take much pains in hunting them; hence arise 

 that coldness and indifference which sometimes 

 may be perceived in fox-hounds whilst pursuing 

 their game. 



You ask me, if I would take off my hounds 

 to a halloo? If they are running with a good 

 scent, I most certainly would not : if otherwise, 

 and I could depend upon the halloo, in some 

 cases, I think, I would : for instance, when the 

 fox is a great way before them, or persists in 

 running his foil ; for such foxes are difficult to 

 kill, unless you endeavour to get nearer to them 

 by some means or other. When you hunt after 

 them, it frequently happens that the longer you 

 run, the further you are behind. 



When hounds are out of blood, and a fox 

 runs his foil, you need not scruple to stop the 

 tail hounds, and throw them in at head ; or, if 

 the cover has any ridings cut in it, and the fox 

 be often seen, your huntsman, by keeping some 



