190 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



style of Fox Hounds running. 



will be much protracted, and will most likely end in the 

 loss of the fox. 



If, however, hounds should be pressed when the scent 

 is good, they should not be hurried when it is bad. 

 "Most fox-hunters wish to see their hounds run in a good 

 style. I confess I am myself one of those. I hate to see 

 a string of them, nor can I bear to see them creep where 

 they can leap. It is the dash of the fox hound which 

 distinguishes Mm as truly as the motto of William of 

 Wickham distinguishes us. A pack of harriers, if they 

 have time, will kill a fox ; but I defy them to kill him in 

 the style in which a fox ought to be killed ; they must 

 hunt him down. If you are to tire him out, you must 

 expect to be tired yourself also : I never wish a chase 

 to be less than one hour, or to exceed two : it is suffi- 

 ciently long, if properly followed." Hounds, after five 

 or six seasons running, frequently do more harm than 

 good : too many old hounds should not be kept, if the 

 pack are expected to run well together ; and every hound 

 that is off the scent, or behind the rest, should not fail 

 to come to a halloo. 



Changing foxes is a very unpleasant occurrence ; nor 

 is it possible always to guard against it. " Could a fox 

 hound (says Beckford) distinguish a hunted fox, as the 

 deer hound does the deer that is blown, fox-hunting 

 would then be perfect." On this subject Beckford does 

 not seem to be well infomied : he does not seem to be 

 aware that this distinction arises rather fi-om the capacity 

 of the hound than the scent of the objects of pursuit ; 

 since there is every reason to believe that the scent of 

 the fox is stronger and more obvious than that of the 



