98 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



an average, it is better after nine o'clock than 

 before. 



In cub-hunting, the great object is to get blood 

 for yovir young hounds. If you find a litter of 

 cubs, the stouter they are and the longer they 

 run the better, and the more good will be done 

 to your hounds ; you are sure of killing, if you 

 will but have patience and perseverance, — two 

 necessary virtues, with which a huntsman above 

 all men should be endued. 



I never found any benefit in getting up in the 

 middle of the night, which you must do if you 

 have any distance to go, and purpose meeting at 

 day-break in the beginning of September. At the 

 same time, I do not approve of zvorking hounds 

 in very hot weather : I know from experience, it 

 is sometimes attended with fatal consequences, — 

 I once suffered very severely from it. I had 

 killed a cub early, and it being a good scenting 

 morning, I allowed the hounds to try for another ; 

 we unfortunately found an old fox, and as he did 

 not attempt " to break,'''' we fancied it was a cub. 

 The hounds ran him well for two hours, and I 

 expected every moment they would kill him ; 

 being over anxious, we were not aware the day 

 was getting warm. The hounds at last killed 

 their fox ; but I lost three valuable dogs, which 

 died in con\ailsions, in consequence of their great 



