TRAINING AND HUNTING 55 



citable and unless you overrun the line at the 

 first turn and make a loss do not keep too close 

 to them when driving. This is responsible for 

 spoiling more good runs than all the bad soil, 

 high wind, and climatic conditions combined. 

 In hunting the hunter should stay with the 

 hounds and not allow the hounds to stay with 

 him. They are supposed to do the hunting and 

 should not learn to rely upon the hunter to 

 select likely places to get up the fox or strike 

 a trail. When hounds are " thrown in " stay 

 perfectly quiet and keep your horse so. 

 Hounds are easily rattled at this stage, espe- 

 cially if they have been kenneled for several 

 days, and too much enthusiasm on your part 

 may cause them to riot. Frequently, owing to 

 the character of the country in wooded districts, 

 it is impossible to keep the hounds within sight 

 or hearing; then the craft of the hunter or 

 trainer with an accurate knowledge of the 

 habits of the game comes into play. If sheep 

 or cattle are in sight he can tell at a glance if 

 they passed in their vicinity, can even tell the 

 very direction taken. Every flock of fowls, 

 farm dog, or cur of low degree is an indicator. 

 If there is a band of horses he can tell whether 

 the hounds were close or far behind the fox. 

 If there is a crow or jaybird in the neighbor- 



