78 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



they came to a check their heads were up, and 

 they were ready to start with the huntsman 

 wherever his genius might direct. This beautiful 

 pack, in consequence, never put their noses down ; 

 they had been so Avell discipHned, that the words 

 " heads up " were unnecessary, but to get them 

 down again was impossible. 



Another wild system I witnessed in a rural 

 country : the hounds Avere running their fox 

 well, he was viewed by the huntsman, who set 

 to riding and mobbing him, and the consequence 

 was they came to a check ; however, fortunately 

 getting the scent again, they had one of the 

 best runs of the season, but did 7iot kill. In my 

 opinion, if this unsportsmanlike act had not taken 

 place at so critical a moment, the hounds would 

 in all probability have killed their fox. 



Some people think it fair to mob and ride a 

 fox, and fancy it takes something out of him, 

 and that the hounds will sooner run into him ; 

 but nine times out of ten it is the means of his 

 beating them, as it bothers the hounds, foils the 

 ground, and it frequently happens Avhen a fox 

 has been rode, the pack cannot hunt him after- 

 Avards. When before speaking of servants, I should 

 have observed, that I was formerly an advocate 

 for cajD-money, thinking it did no harm, saved 

 a little in servant's wages, and, hunting my own 



