CUB-HUNTING. 135 



He kept a pack of harriers, with which he used occa- 

 sionally to hunt bag foxes, and his plan for getting 

 them into condition was, to shut them up in a snuiU 

 place, with a hole to admit the light about six feet 

 above their heads, at which they would continually 

 employ themselves in jumping, to endeavour to escape, 

 and by that means get into good wind and condition. 

 As summer wears away, and the cub-hunting is 

 drawing nearer to a close, the time of meeting may be 

 at a later hour. But as that period of the year ought 

 undoubtedly to be given up to the master of the pack 

 for the purpose of educating his young hounds, and 

 getting them into such order and condition that they 

 may acquit themselves with credit, when the regular 

 season arrives, I would never meet at such a time, as 

 that the lateness of the hour would be an inducement 

 to cause a number of persons to come out. Men who 

 make a practice of going regularly cub-hunting are 

 generally good sportsmen, and instead of doing harm, 

 frequently do a great deal of good, by assisting to 

 keep foxes back in large woodlands ; but a numerous 

 field in October is never to be desired, and the only 

 way to prevent it is never to meet later than about 

 seven o'clock. When beset by the entreaties of 

 gentlemen who may be subscribers or good preservers 

 of foxes, a huntsman may be overpersuaded to draw 

 covers which it may at that time not be convenient to 

 disturb, and to endeavour to show sport in the open, 

 which at so early a day is never to be desired. One 

 of the best runs I ever knew in my whole life was on 

 the 5th of September, with the Warwickshire hounds, 

 when Mr. Shirley was master of them. It was an 



