50 THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
knows had the lead before there arose any doubt of 
changing. 
‘With regard to the Fox, if he breaks over an open 
country, it is no sign that he is hard run; for they seldom, 
at any time, will do that, unless they are a great way 
before the hounds. Also, if he runs up the wind,—foxes 
seldom do that when they have been long hunted and 
grow weak; and when they run their foil, ¢hat also may 
direct the huntsman. All this requires a good ear and 
nice observation; and, indeed, in these consist the chief 
excellence of a huntsman. 
‘¢The huntsman at a check, had better let his hounds 
alone, or content himself with holding them forward, 
without taking them off their noses. Hounds that are not 
used to be cast, will of themselves acquire a better cast 
than it is in the power of any huntsman to give them; will 
spread more and try better for the scent; and, if they are 
in health and spirits, they will want no encouragement. 
“Ifthey are at fault, and have made their own cast, which 
the huntsman should always encourage them to do, it is 
then his business to assist them further; but, except in some 
particular instances, they should never be cast as long as 
they are inclined tohunt. The first cast of a huntsman 
should be a regular one: if that does not succeed, he 
should be at liberty to follow his own opinion, and proceed 
as observation and genius may direct. When a knowing 
cast is made, there ought to be some mark of good sense or 
meaning in it—whether down the wind, or towards some 
likely cover or strong earth; however, as it is at best un- 
certain, and as the huntsman and the fox may be of dif- 
ferent opinions, a regular cast should always be made 
before a knowing one is attempted, which, as a last re- 
source, should not be called forth till it is wanted. The 
letting hounds alone is but a negative goodness in a hunts- 
man; whereas it is true that this last gives him an opportu- 
nity of displaying genius, if he happen to possess so rare 
and valuable a qualification. There is one fault, however, 
which a knowing huntsman is apt to commit—he will find 
a fresh fox, and then claim the merit of having recovered 
the hunted one. 
‘¢Jt is always dangerous to throw hounds into a cover 
to retrieve a lost scent; and, unless they hit him in, is not 
to be depended on. Driven to the last extremity, should 
a knowing cast not succeed, the huntsman is no way blame- 
able. 
«¢ When hounds are at fault, gentlemen are apt to con- 
tribute to their remaining so. They should always stop 
their horses some distance behind the hounds; and, if it is 
possible to be silent, this is the time to be-so: they should 
be careful not to ride before the hounds or over the scent; 
nor should they ever meet a hound in the face unless with 
a design to stop him. Shoulda sportsman, at any time, 
happen to get before the hounds, he should turn his horse’s 
head the way they are going; get out of their way, and let 
them pass. 
‘¢ When the weather is dry, foxes will run the roads, 
particularly in heathy countries. If gentlemen, at such 
a time, ride close upon the hounds, they may drive them 
miles without any scent. High-mettled fox-hounds are 
seldom inclined to stop whilst horses are close at the heels 
of them. 
‘¢The first moment that hounds are at fault is a eritical 
one for the sport: sportsmen should then be very atten- 
tive. Those who look forward perhaps may see the Fox; 
or, the running of sheep, or the pursuit of crows, may give 
them some tidings of him. Those who listen may some- 
times take a hint which way he is gone, from the chat- 
tering of a jay, or perhaps be at a certainty from a dis- 
tant halloo; nothing that gives any intelligence at such a 
time as this should be neglected. Gentlemen are too apt 
to ride altogether; were they to spread more, they might 
sometimes be of service; particularly such, as from a 
knowledge of the sport, keep down the wind; it would 
then be difficult for either hounds or fox to escape their 
observation. 
‘<The idea that a fox never stops is a very necessary 
one for a fox-hunter, that he may be active, and lose no 
time; yet tired foxes will stop if you can hold them on; 
and they have been known to stop even in wheel ruts on 
the open down, and leap up in the midst of the hounds. 
A tired fox ought not to be given up; for he is killed 
sometimes very unexpectedly. If hounds have ever 
pressed him, he is worth your trouble; perseverance may 
recover him, and, if recovered, he most probably will be 
killed; nor should you despair while any scent remains. 
The business of a huntsman is only difficult when the scent 
dies quite away; and it is then he may show /zs judgment, 
when the hounds are no longer able to show ¢hezr’s. The 
recovering a lost scent, and getting near to a fox by a long 
cast, requires genius, for which huntsmen in general are not 
remarkable. When hounds are no longer capable of feeling 
the scent, it all rests with the huntsman; either the game is 
entirely given up, or is only to be recovered by him. 
‘If hounds come to a check on the high road, by the 
fox being headed back, if in that particular case, you 
suffer them to try back, it gives them the best chance of hit- 
ting off the scent again, as they may try both sides at once. 
‘¢When hounds are running in cover you cannot be too 
quiet. If the fox be running short, and the hounds are 
killing him, not a word should then be said: itis a difficult 
time for hounds to hunt him, as he is continually turning, 
and will sometimes lie down and let them pass him. 
