112 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



ance than detached bodies of hounds scattered 

 all over the country, some here and some there ; 

 and in Avoodlands, with several foxes on foot, 

 there is a still worse prospect, and less chance 

 of their again uniting : the division of hounds 

 on your hunted fox becomes weaker every minute, 

 your ears are annoyed by tongues on a variety 

 of scents in every direction, whilst yovir head of 

 hounds dwindles away to nothing, and you are 

 left at last " tooting " your horn without three 

 hounds upon the line. I have known a few 

 hounds, kept by some farmers, (not exceeding 

 sixteen couples,) that seldom missed a fox, — they 

 were named " the Invincibles ; " 



" There was 

 Invincible Tom and invincible Towler, 

 Invincible Jack and invincible Jowler." 



Although they were occasionally a great annoy- 

 ance to me, and disturbed the cream of the 

 country formerly hunted by the late Mr. Panton, 

 I could not be displeased Avith them ; the farmers 

 who managed them were respectable people, fond 

 of the sport, and had as much right to hunt as 

 I had. I could set the conduct of an individual 

 on that occasion in no very favourable light ; 

 bvit, as we are taught by the moralist to " forget 



