THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. Sip 



I prefer the horn, to which, I observe, hounds fly more 

 readily than to the huntsman's voice. Good voices cer- 

 tainly are pleasing; yet it might be as well, perhaps,, if 

 those who have them were less fond of exerting them* 

 When a fox is halloo'd, those who understand this business 

 and get forward may halloo him again* 3 yet let them, 

 be told, if the hounds go the contrary way, or do not seem 

 to come on upon the line of him, to halloo no more. 

 With regard to its being the hunted fox — the fox which 

 every man halloos, is the hunted fox in. his own opinion, 

 though he seldom has a better reason for it than because 

 he saw him. Such halloos as serve to keep the hounds 

 together, and to get on the tail hounds, are always of use : 

 halloos of encouragement to the leading hounds, if in- 

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



* Should a fox be halloo'd in cover, whiL^ the hounds are at fault ; 

 if they be long in coming, by getting forward, you. may halloo the fox 

 again ,; perhaps, before; the hounds are laid on ; by which means you 

 will get nearer to him. In cases like this, ai good sportsman may be of 

 .great use to hounds. There are days, when hounds will do their busi. 

 ness best if let quite alone ; and there are days, when they can do no- 

 thing without assistance. — Let them be assisted at no other time. Of 

 a bad scenting day, or when hounds may be over-matched, you cannot 

 assist them too much. 



