THE HUNTED FOX 115 



the hunted one. Many hounds, however, seem able 

 to recognise that the change of scent means that the 

 fox's powers are failing. Now, they seem to think, is 

 the time for an effort, and the observant huntsman 

 riding alongside his pack will notice that certain 

 hounds push to the front and begin to run hardei 

 than ever, while others drop back, apparently unable 

 to hold to the line or to follow it with the same 

 enthusiasm as before. There are hounds in every 

 pack which are perhaps rather slack drawers, or not 

 very forward in the chase, until the time comes when 

 they can run for blood. Such hounds are frequently 

 responsible for the death of the fox. 



The use of their odour to the race of foxes is 

 rather difficult to explain, but it is probably a kind 

 of bond of union, or it may be of warning, so that 

 one fox shall be able to recognise when it comes 

 upon the beat of another and to know its sex and 

 possibly even its age. This odour might seem to 

 be a disadvantage in some ways, but it is withheld 

 either voluntarily or involuntarily in times of danger. 

 We have seen that it is in some measure dependent 

 on sex and health and age, and it is clearly an 

 advantage to the younger and weaker foxes as 

 well as to vixens in the spring that they give off 

 a fainter odour, or perhaps, in the latter instance 



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