2'-2 ItiOUGUTS UPON HUNTING. 



are ftanding ftill the fox is rtinning miles. It is 3 

 fatisfaclioii to a hare-hunter to be told where his 

 game was feen, though a long wliile before ; but 

 it is melancholy news to a fox-hunter, whole 

 game is not hkely to Hop. I believe I mentioned 

 to you, in a former letter on hare hunting, a 

 great fault which I had obfervcd in fomc harriers 

 from beins let too much alone — that of riinuin^ 

 l^ack the heel. — I have feen a pack of high-bred 

 fox-hounds do the fame, for the fame rcafons. 



When hounds flag from frequent changes, and 

 a long day, it is neceflliry for a huntfman to ani- 

 mate them as much as he can ; he mufl keep 

 them forward and prefs them on, for it is not 

 likely, in this cafe, that they fliould over-run the 

 fccnt ; at thefe times the whole work is generally 

 done by a few hounds, and he fhould keep clofe 

 to them : here I alfo fear thai the hare-hunter will 

 fail :* if they come to a long fault it is over, and 

 you had better then go home. 



The 



* It is at a time like this that good fportfmen may be of great 

 fervice to hounds; it is the onty time that they want encourage- 

 ment, and it is (I am forry to fay) ahnoft the only time that they 

 do not receive it. Thofe who ride too forward in the morn- 

 ing will in the evening, perhaps, be too far behind, and thereby 

 lofe an opportunity that is offered them of making fome amends 

 for the mifchiefs they have already done. When hounds flag 

 from frequent changes, and the huntfman's horfe finks under 

 the fatigue of a tirefome day, then it is that fportfinen may 



ainii 



