THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 2^5 



Jt is to little purpose to draw hazle coppices at the 

 'time when nuts are gathering ; furze-covers, or two or 

 three-years coppices, are then the only quiet places that a 

 ■fox can kennel in : they also are disturbed when pheasaxnt- 

 shooting begins, and older covers are more likely. The 

 season when foxes are most wild and strong, is about 

 Christmas : a huntsman then must lose no time in draw- 

 ing ; he must draw up the wind, unless the cover be very 

 large; in which case it may be better, perhaps, to cross it, 

 giving the hounds a side-wind, lest he should be obliged 

 to turn down the wind at last : — in either case, let him 

 draw as quietly as he can. 



Young coppices, at this time of the year, are quite 

 bare : the most likely places are, four or five-years cop- 

 pices, and such as are furzy at bottom. 



It is easy to perceive, by the account you give of your 

 hounds, that they do not draw well ; your huntsman, 

 therefore, must be particularly attentive to them after a 

 wet night. The best drawing hounds are shy of searching 

 a cover when it is wet : yours, if care be not taken, will 

 not go into it at all. Your huntsman should ride into 



