632 BIG GAME OF NORTH AMERICA. 



hound to know; and, be it known to the inexperienced, 

 there are few more sagacious animals than the Fox-hound. 

 I myself doubt whether any other dog, except the Collie, 

 has equal capacity to acquire a knowledge of his work as 

 the Fox-hound, if not spoiled by ignorant or incompetent 

 handlers. 



There is left for descrij^tion the hunt itself. The crowed 

 which goes out with the hounds in a genuine English hunt 

 is apt to be distasteful to our best Fox-hunters. Their idea 

 of genuine sport is, for half a dozen real friends to meet 

 quietly, and have the chase to themselves. If, however, a 

 neighbor or two joins in uninvited, they are not unwelcome; 

 and if the chase goes through a farm, and all hands leave 

 work and run for a hill- top, mount the fence, get up a tree, 

 or scramble to the top of the straw-rick, to see as much of 

 the chase as may be, the hunters take real pleasure in 

 adding a pleasant episode to the sameness of the simple 

 lives of country w^ork-people. What is meant is, that the 

 bustle and display of an English meet is not in accordance 

 with the tastes of our country gentlemen; not that they are 

 at all selfish or exclusive in the enjoyment of their sjjort. 

 In the case of wealthy clubs of city people, a different feel- 

 ing prevails. Generally they are more after display than 

 sx)ort. An anise-bag, or a dead Fox, or some other drag, 

 suits them equally as well as, or even better than a genuine 

 hunt. 



Enough has already been said of the hunting-horse; we 

 may, how^ever, re-affirm that there neither is, nor can be, 

 any real sport in a Fox-hunt for any person poorly 

 mounted. A horse not sufficiently well-bred can not carry 

 a rider through a severe chase with either comfort or safety. 

 It is a genuine misery to ride a jaded horse; and, moreover, 

 unless ridden with great caution, the riders neck is not 

 safe; and consciousness of the unfit condition of the horse 

 is fatal to that enthusiasm and elan which are the life and 

 soul of everything deserving the name of sport. Therefore, 

 the first thing essential to the enjoyment of Fox-hunting is 

 a well-bred, sound, safe horse. The best horses are about 



