OF CASTING. 255 



loss of many foxes. In heathy countries, if 

 there are many roads, foxes will always run 

 them in dry weather ; when hounds, therefore, 

 over-run the scent, if your huntsman returns to 

 the first cross road, he probably will hit off the 

 scent again. 



In large covers, if there are many roads, in 

 bad scenting days when these roads are dry, 

 or after a thaw, when they carry, it is necessary 

 your huntsman should be near to his hounds to 

 help them and hold them forward. Foxes will 

 run the roads at these times, and hounds cannot 

 always own the scent. When they are at a 

 fault on a dry road, let not your huntsman 

 turn back too soon ; let him not stop till he 

 can be certain that the fox is not gone on. 

 The hounds should try on both sides the road 

 at once ; if he perceives that they try on one 

 side only, on his return let him try the other. 



If a fox runs up the wind when first found, 

 and afterwards turns, he seldom, if ever, turns 

 again. This observation may not only be of 

 use to your huntsman in his cast, but may 

 be of use to you, if you should lose the 

 hounds. 



When you are pursuing a fox over a country, 

 the scent being bad, and the fox a long way 



