160 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Of Foxes running the Roads. 



slowly back again : they should return as fast as they 

 can. 



" When hounds are at fault, and it is probable that 

 the fox has headed back, your cast forward should be 

 short and quick ; for the scent is then likely to be behind 

 you : too obstinate a perseverance forward has been the 

 loss of many foxes. In heathy countries, if there are 

 many roads, foxes will always run them in dry weather ; 

 when hounds, therefore, overrun the scent, if your 

 huntsman returns to the first cross road, he probably 

 will hit off the scent again. 



*' In large covers, if there are many roads, in bad 

 scenting days when these roads are dry, or after a thaw, 

 when they carry, it is necessary your huntsman should 

 be near to his hounds to help them, and hold them for- 

 ward. Foxes will rvui the roads at these times, and 

 hounds cannot always own the scent. When they are 

 at fault on a dry road, let not your himtsman turn back 

 too soon ; let him not stop till he can be certain the fox 

 is not gone on. The hounds should try on both sides the 

 road at once : if he perceives that they try on one side 

 only, on his return let him try the other. 



" If a fox runs up the wind when first found, and af- 

 terwards turns, he seldom, if ever, turns again. This 

 observation may not only be of use to your huntsman in 

 his cast, but may be of use to you, if you should lose the 

 hounds. 



** When you are pursuing a fox over a country, the 

 scent being bad, and the fox a long way before, without 

 ever having been pressed, if his point should be for strong- 

 earths that are open, or for large covers, where game is 



