Staghoiinds 8 1 



in a first-rate fox-hunting country ; and if 

 she did, the fickle jade would probably uproot 

 us just as we had got spoilt for any other ! 



As far as I have been able to see, a deer, 

 whilst still full of running, cares little or 

 nothing as to whether he runs up wind or 

 down. In fox-hunting you can always cal- 

 culate, with more or less certainty, on your 

 quarry following out certain vulpine rules 

 under given circumstances ; but, according to 

 my observation — and I merely, of course, 

 o;ive it in the most humble manner for 

 what it is worth — there is no calculating: 

 upon how a deer w^ill run. They seem to 

 have no preference for hill over vale, for 

 open down over stifily fenced country, or 

 vice versd. I have seen deer dodo;e about 

 on an open down, and run perfectly straight 

 over a cramped country thickly interspersed 

 with formidable obstacles. You don't know 

 where to have them in this respect, so the 

 very best plan is to follow Assheton Smith's 

 example, and " go into every field with the 

 hounds ! " 



F 



