132 MR. herring's menagerie, 



calculated for sport. How different is the system in 

 other hunts, which it is needless to mention, where 

 there is scarcely a litter of cubs, which is not put down 

 in the summer, and which have not found their way 

 either from Mr. Herring's menagerie in the New Road, 

 or from Mr. Baker's celebrated shop in Leadenhall 

 Market, to the cost and detriment of other hunting 

 countries. Fox-dealers may lie and humbug as much 

 as they like about only selling foreign and Welsh foxes ; 

 but it is a well-known fact, that all are fish which come 

 to their nets. 



The sooner you can begin after the corn is cut, the 

 better, as it gives hounds so great an advantage when 

 the foxes are not come to their full strength ; a good 

 beginning is half the battle, and that is one reason 

 why it is generally recommended to wait for a shower 

 of rain to cool the covers and improve the scent. 

 Work of the right sort, added to blood, is what is 

 required ; one without the other is of little avail, and 

 where good luck forsakes you, cubs scarce, and the 

 great desideratum cannot be obtained by fair means, 

 others must be resorted to, let them be what they will, 

 to gain the point ; however, anything in the world is 

 better than turning out a bagman, the scent of which is 

 as different from the natural smell of a wild fox, as a red 

 herring is from a fresh mackerel. The ill effects which 

 the custom of indulging hounds with this spurious 

 kind of blood produces, will soon discover itself if 

 frequently put in practice ; hares, cur-dogs, &c., will 

 be all alike to them, and their hurry and wildness in 

 drawing will be no less manifest, than their unsteadi- 

 ness in chase. Even fox -hounds, which have before 



