70 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



was, most of the hounds remained out all night, 

 and I did not get them right again for a length 

 of time. 



The method of riding to hounds is so much 

 altered within the last few years, that you will 

 have no small trouble in preventing your Field 

 from getting too forward. Most men of the 

 present day, if they can find cash to pui'chase 

 a good hunter, have nerves to ride him. The 

 first two requisites in riding to hounds are, a 

 good eye, and a good hound ; a man that rides 

 close at the tail of the pack (as the term is), and 

 follows them every where, may have the name 

 of a bold rider, but never that of a good one ; 

 he must naturally ride over a great deal of un- 

 necessary ground, and in consequence will the 

 sooner tire his horse. If you observe a good sports- 

 man in the field, he will ride a little to the right or 

 to the left, so as to command the pack, with his 

 eye on the leading hounds, and take every ad- 

 vantage of ground when they turn with the scent 

 on either side. Of course, I do not mean to 

 recommend skirting ; for a skirting rider is as 

 bad as a skirting hound, and will often do as 

 much mischief. How valuable, therefore, is a 

 horse with a good mouth ; a hunter cannot be 

 said to be perfect without it. When the pack 

 comes suddenly to a check, if a sportsman has 



