36 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



When I have drawn a covert blank, and have 

 suspected some trick has been played to prevent 

 my coming again that season, I always made a 

 point of taking it in its turn, and drawing very 

 close. Some illiberals I have known, who kill all 

 the foxes, and when the hounds meet at the 

 covert, have a bag-man ready to turn down, 

 taking care to have two or three foot people 

 placed at different parts to halloo at the same 

 instant, that it may appear there are several 

 foxes on foot. This may deceive a young, in- 

 experienced Sportsman ; but an old one it never 

 can. I remember, some years ago, a person who 

 I Avas certain killed foxes, requested me to come 

 when the snow had fallen, to observe their tracks 

 into his preserves : I reminded him of the story 

 in iEsop's Fables, of the answer the Fox gave 

 the Lion, when he endeavoured to entice him 

 into his den — " You will," said the Lion, " rvni 

 no risk ; observe the tracks of many of your 

 species into my den." " Very true," answered 

 Reynard ; " I see the marks of those that entered, 

 but where can you point out to me a single trace 

 of one returning ? " I was well assured, if a fox 

 once wandered into my pretended friend's pre- 

 serves, he would never come out again alive. I 

 have always preferred an open foe, in every station 

 of life ; for a pretended friend is the worst of 



