HUNTING DIRECTORY 177 



celebrated Hugo Mcyncll, Esq. 



the drag of a fox, which they would do very late in the 

 day ; and sometimes the hardest runners were the best 

 hunters : and fortunate was the year when such excel- 

 lencies prevailed. 



" Mr. Meynell prided himself on the steadiness and 

 docility of his hounds, and their hunting through sheep 

 and hares, which they did in a very superior manner. 

 He seldom, or ever, attempted to lift his hounds through 

 sheep ; and from habit, and the great flocks the hounds 

 were accustomed to, they carried the scent on most cor- 

 rectly and expeditiously, much sooner than any lifting 

 could accomplish. 



" Mr. Meynell was not fond of casting hounds : when 

 once they were laid upon the line of scent, he left it to 

 them — he only encouraged them to take pains, and kept 

 aloof, so that the steam of the horses could not interfere 

 with the scent. 



" When a fox was found in a gorse covert, very httle 

 noise or encouragement was made ; and, when he went 

 away, as soon as the hounds were apprised of it, they did 

 not go headlong after, but commenced very quietly — 

 settled and collected together gradually, mending their 

 pace, and accumulating their force, as they went along ; 

 completing what was emphatically termed — a terrible 

 burst ! 



" When his hounds came to a check, every encourage- 

 ment was given them to recover the scent, without the 

 huntsman getting amongst them, or the whippers-in 

 driving them about, which is the common practice of 

 most packs. The hounds were halloo'd back to the 

 place where they brought the scent, and encouraged to 



