248 THOUGHTS UPON HUNT1N^= 



LETTER XIX. 



FINDING, by your last letter, that an early hour 

 does not suit you, I will mention some particulars wliioh 

 may be of use to you when you hunt late :.7— An early hour 

 is only necessary where covers ^re large and foxes scarce : 

 vv'here they are in pipnty, you may hunt at. any hour you 

 please. When foxes are weak, by hunting late you have 

 better chases: when they are strong, give me leave to 

 tell you, you must hunt early, or you will not always kill 

 them. I think, hovv^ever, when you go out late, you 

 should go immediately to the place where you are most 

 likely to find, which, generally speaking, is the cover 

 that hounds have been least in. If the cover be large, 

 you should draw only such parts of it as a fox is likely 

 to kennel in : it is useless to draw any other at a late 

 hour : besides, though it be always right to find as , soon 

 jas you can, yet it can never be so necessary as when the 



is far advanced. If you do not find soon, a long and 



