OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 71 



his eye on the leading hounds (which he ought 

 to have), he will in a moment see the event, 

 and of course halt short of the spot to which 

 they brouglit the scent. Wlien I make use of 

 the word halt, I don't mean that every man 

 should go to drill ; but I know this, if many 

 that call themselves sportsmen had a little drilling, 

 it would do them a great deal of good ! It is 

 the general opinion that when hounds check, 

 the fox is forward ; and the first cast a hunts- 

 man ought to make is a forward one. I cannot 

 say I think so ; on the contrary, if there are 

 no sheep, deer, cattle, &c. to foil the ground, 

 and the fox has not been coursed by a cur-dog, 

 why should they clieck if he is gone on ? The 

 greatest probability is, that he has headed, or 

 made a short turn to the right or left ; there- 

 fore, if you cast at all, a forward one is the least 

 likely to succeed. There is one rule however, 

 from which you should never deviate, — let your 

 hounds try first before you attempt to make a 

 cast yourself; hounds that are not accustomed 

 to be " lifted," will make a superior one to any 

 human being. It is very extraordinary, yet never- 

 theless true, that many people go out for the 

 sake of the riding part only ; the hunting is a 

 minor consideration ; and if the hounds do their 

 work well or ill, it is of little consequence to 



