26o ■ THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



Foxes are said to go down the wind to their kennel j 

 but 1 believe they do not always observe that rule. 



Huntsmen, while their hounds are drawing, or are at 

 a fault, frequently make so much noise themselves, that 

 they can hear nothing else : they should always have aa 

 ear to a halloo. I once saw an extraordinary instance of 

 the want of it in my own huntsman, who was making so 

 much noise with his hounds, which were then at fault, 

 that a man halloo'd a long while before he heard him ; 

 and, when he did hear him, so little did he know whence 

 the halloo came, that he rode two miles the wrong way, 

 and lost the fox. 



When hounds approach a cover which it is mtendcd 

 they should draw, and dash away towards it, whippers-in 

 ride after them to stop them : it is too late, and they 

 had better let them alone : it checks them in their draw- 

 ing, and is of no kind of use : it will be soon enough to 

 begin to rate v/hen they have found, and hunt improper 

 game. When a huntsman has his hounds under good com- 

 mand, and is attentive to them, they will not break off till 

 he chooses that they should. When he goes by the side of 



