100 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



day the hounds were out, and also the Squire's 

 tenant ; they had drawn some time without 

 finding, when the farmer reminded his Lordship 

 of the fox caught ; "do you think, said he, I 

 will allow my hounds to hunt a bag-fox ? I 

 should never be forgiven by my huntsman ! " 

 At last, after drawing several coverts without 

 finding, his Lordship gave his consent (but it 

 was to be kept a great secret), and the bag was 

 to be touched upon the ground in a line for a 

 covert they were going to draw, to have the 

 appearance of a disturbed fox, and the fox to be 

 turned down in it. 



On going to covert, a favourite hound, called 

 Partner, feathered on the scent. The huntsman 

 exclaimed in exstacy, " old Partner touches on 

 him ; a fox by G — d ! we shall certainly find in 

 the next covert ; " they found the bag-man, 

 and had a tolerable run ; but when they killed 

 him, not a hound would eat him ! " Now, Sir," 

 said his Lordship to the farmer, " you have de- 

 ceived the huntsman and the field, hut you cannot 

 deceive my hounds.'''' 



Next to turning out bag-men, lifting of hounds 

 is the most prejudicial. They should seldom be 

 taken " off their noses," nothing is gained by it 

 in the end ; hounds that are seldom lifted, will 

 kill more foxes in the course of a season than 



