278 HISTORY OF QUADRUPEDS. 



carefully covering it with earth to prevent a difcovery. 

 If a flock of poultry have unfortunately fallen victims to 

 its ftratagems, it will bring them, one by one, to thefe 

 hiding-places •, where it leaves them till hunger demands 

 frefh fupplies. 



The chafe of the Fox is a very favourite diverfion in 

 this kingdom, and is no-where purfued with fuch ardour 

 and intrepidity. Both our Dogs and Horfes are confefT- 

 edly fuperior to thofe of any other country. — The inftant 

 the Fox finds he is purfued, he flies towards his hole ; 

 and finding it flopped, which is always carefully done 

 before the chafe begins, he has recourfe to his fpeed and 

 his cunning for fafety. He does not double and meafure 

 his ground back like the Hare, but continues his courfe 

 ftraight forward before the Hounds with great ftrength 

 and perfeverance. Both Dogs and Horfes, particularly 

 the latter, have frequently fallen victims to the ardour of 

 the purfuit, which has fometimes continued for upwards 

 of fifty miles without the fmalleit intermifiion, and al- 

 moft at full fpeed*. — As the fcent of the Fox is very 

 ftrong, the Dogs follow with great alacrity and eagernefs, 

 and have been known to keep up a conftant chafe for 

 eight or ten hours together ; and it is hard to fay, whe- 

 ther the fpirited eagernefs of the Hounds, the ardour of 

 the Horfes, or the enthufiafm of the hunters, is mod to 



* Mr Charles Turner's Hounds hunted at Ayreyholm, near 

 Hurworth, in the county of Durham, and found the noted old 

 Fox CESAR, which made an extraordinary chafe. After a round 

 of four miles, he led to Smeaton, through Hornby and Appleton ; 

 then back again to Hornby, Worfet-moor, Pierfburgh, Limpton, 

 Craythorn, Middleton, Hilton, Seamer, Newby, Marlon, Ormf- 

 by; then upon Hambleton, through Kirkleatham-park, Uplea- 

 tham, Skelton, and Kilton. Mr Turner tired three Horfes ; and 

 only three Hounds were in purfuit, when he thought proper to 

 call them off, it being near five in the evening. The chafe was 

 upwards of fifty miles, 



