THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 313 



question generally is, Did your hounds killf — If he should say, 

 They did ;z7/, the conversation ends; but if, on the con- 

 trary, he tell you that they did, you then ask a hundred 

 questions, and seldom are satisfied till he has related every 

 particular of the chase. 



When there is snow on the ground, foxes will lie at 

 earth*. Should your hounds be in want of blood, it will 

 at that time be easy to dig one to turn out before them, 

 when the weather breaks : — but I seem to have forgotten a 

 new dodrine which 1 lately heard, that blood is not ne- 

 cessary to a pack of fox-hounds. \i you also should have 

 taken up that opinion, I have only to wish, that the good? 

 ness of your hounds may prevent you from changing it, or 

 from knowing how far it may be erroneous -f. 



Before you have been long a fox-hunter, I exped to 

 hear you talk of the ill-luck which so frequently attends 



* Earths should be watched when there is snow upon the ground ; for 

 foxes then will lie at earth. Those who are inclined to destroy them, can 

 track them in, and may dig them out. 



+ Those who can suppose the killing of a fox to be of no service to a 

 pack of fox-hounds, may suppose, perhaps, that it does them hurt : it is 

 going but one step further. 



