FOX-HUNTING, from its exciting nature, as well as from the qualities of daring courage and cool calculation requisite in those who thoroughly follow and appreciate it, has long been termed the king of British national sports.
In Great Britain, there are upwards of 100 hunting establishments, of which by far the greater proportion belong to the counties s. of the Tweed. Fox-hunting establish ments—which are in most instances supported by subscription, though sometimes owned by private gentlemen of wealth and influence—are organized and maintained at a very considerable annual cost, the price of a single pack of fox-hounds sometimes amounting to several thousand guineas. Every establishment is under tlie direct super intendence and control of one experienced gentleman, the master, and under him again rank the huntsman, whippers-in, earth-stopper, kennel-servan,ts,. etc. A " pack" i« composed of from 20 to GO couples of hounds, the number greatly depending upon the frequency of hunting-days: thus, some packs hunt six days, some five days, others four, and many only two days a week; 30 couple of hounds is a good average; theSe are care fully reared, fed, and otherwise attended to. The master himself, as a matter of course, has the general superintendence of the servants, hounds, and horses; and in the hunt ing-field is general director of the proceedings. Next to him come the huntsman, and one or two "whippers-in" (" whips"). The huntsman, who is practically the most important personage in the field, requires to see that his hounds are properly managed and fed in their kennels; duly led to the place of meeting on hunting-days; and, what is of more consequence still, that they receive fair-play in the field, and find and hunt their foxes in true style. The huntsman requires to he a man of great nerve and much activity: he should also have a good head, a clear ringing voice, a keen eye, and above all he must be a first-rate horseman, and know thoroughly every point iu the country over which he hunts. He has often to restrain heedless riders, and " keep the field back;" a duty requiring firmness of character, with a quiet and civil manner. With these necessary qualifications, and having so many responsible:duties on his shoulders, he is treated with great respect by those for whom be provides sport: he is mounted on the best horses his master can produce, and may be said to conduct and direct the hunt from the moment the fox is found till the moment of its death—from "find to finish." The duties of the first whipper-in, though not so responsible es those of the hunts man, are still considerable: for instance, he takes a certain management of the hounds in kennel, assists in conducting the hounds tp the " meet," and aids the huntsman in various ways during the run. His of the management of hounds, and of fox-hunting generally, must at the same time be such as to enable him to occupy the huntsman's place in an emergency. The " second whip's" principal duty is that of bringing up and urging on lagging hounds in the field, by lashing and '; rating." In many hunts, however, a second whipper-in is dispensed with.
A considerable range of country is necessary foi;the full enjoyment of fox-hunting, the best being that which is diversified by pasturage and plantation. Being a nocturnal feeder, the fox quits his burroW or "earth"—which is generally in a gorse brake, or a plantation or covert of underwood—during the night, and returns to it iu the morning, and this fact is taken advantage of by those who hunt him for sport. The day and place of " the meet" are duly advertised, and on the night before the hunt, the coverts to be "drawn" next day are visited either by a duly appointed or by the gamekeeper, who, knowing that the foxes are from home, proceeds, spade in hand, from one bole to another, filling them up with earth and brushwood as he goes. Thus, the fox, upon returning at dawn to his "earth," finds ingress denied, and so betakes himself to some neighboring thicket, or to some uninclosed cover of gorse, rushes, etc., where lie makes a temporary lair or "kennel." When the earths have been carefully closed, the earth-stopper returns borne and informs the huntsman, or first "whip," as to their number and locality, and that information forms a guide for the proceedings of the fol lowing day. (After the hunt is over, the earths are reopened, and as little trace as pos sible left of the work.) The hour of "the meet" is usually 10 or 11 o'clock A.M., and at the appointed place assemble the whole field, including master, huntsman, whippers in, hounds, and those gentlemen (and frequently ladies) who intend either to participate in the day's sport, or merely to see the " hounds throw off." When a covert is reached, the huntsman, by a wave of his hand, or a few familiar words, such as "Eu in! eu in there! good dogs!" " throws in" his hounds, following immediately after with the first " whip." The mounted gentlemen usually remain outside, and take their directions as to stance, etc., from the master, who from this time forward does his best to control and direct their movements. In fact, the master may be said to have the control of the " field "—that is, the riders—and the huntsman that of the hounds and hunt. The second whip being posted at the covert side, near where it is expected a fox may burst through or "break," one or two of the more eager riders are sometimes permitted to jump their horses into the covert, if it be large, to assist in the finding of the fox. Those who remain outside then prepare themselves for their work, and eagerly listen for the first token of the presence of reynard; this is betrayed by a slight but anxious whimper or whine from the " challenging" hound—that is, the hound (usually an old and experienced one) that first perceives or " hits" the scent of a fox —and is soon followed by others, who instantly rush to his side. The huntsman, if he
be tolerably certain that the game scented is no other than a fox, at judicious intervals urges on his hounds by familiar expressions, such as " Yoicks, yoieks, have at him!" "Push hint up!" etc., till the fox is fairly roused from his kennel, and steals away. It sometimes happens, while "drawing" coverts, that hounds will come suddenly upon it fox, and seize him before lie has time to escape. This is termed "chopping." and is always to be prevented if possible. If the covert be very thick, a fox may leave his kennel unperceived; and when lie does so, he usually runs through or round the covert for a considerable distance before quitting it for the open fields. He may also "run his foil," by doubling back and forward on the same path or track, and thus possibly baffle the horns, even when they " own his scent." In large coverts, too, a fox fre quently "hangs;" that is, lie remains in it for a long time before going away. The per son who first sees the fox " break cover," or in other words, "views him away," should always allow him a certain "law" before the "view halloo," as a fox will fre quently turn or " head back" into covert if he hears any unusual noise at the instant of his quitting it. When, however, the person or persons who are watching see that the fox is really off, notice is instantly given to those Within the thicket, and those without, by the cry of " Hou—y! hou—y! Tallyho! Gone away! GONE A-WAY II" upon which the huntsman blows his horn to collect his hounds; the whipper-in drives out lagging members of the pack, either with his whip or by some cry; the master restrains the more impatient of the riders till the huntsman and hounds have " settled to" their fox; and then he and the entire field join in the chase, and the first, and frequently the most exciting, part of the day's proceedings has commenced—the fox has " broke cover," the hounds have been "laid on," and the field has entered on its impetuous "first burst." A certain etiquette is, however, absolutely necessary in allowing the hounds and huntsman to get away first; hut after that, each rider, with a certain deference to the master, chooses his own place in the hunt, and does his best, independently of his neigh bors, to keep at a certain distance, not directly in the line, but to one side and in the rear of the hounds. When a rider happens to be near the pack at the first burst, and gets a good position in following them, he is said to "get well away with the hounds;" and if well mounted and a skillful rider, his chances of both viewing the hunt and being "in at the death" are very considerable. And now, as we have already said, begins the grand excitement of the day; the fox being fresh, races away at tremendous speed, fol lowed by perhaps upwards of twenty couple of hounds at full cry. If the day is propitious (a " southerly wind and cloudy sky" having long retained favor), the scent of the retreat ing fox lies well, especially at first, when it is called " burning" or " breast high," and is for many minutes "owned" by at least all the leading hounds in the pack, though, perhaps, the object of pursuit itself is far ahead, and ought of sight; and away streams the hunt over hedges, ditches, and gates, across rivers, railways, arable land, and grass pastures, perhaps for several miles before a single check occurs. Now, the foxhound hunts almost entirely by scent, and does not, like the greyhound, depend upon the eye. The fact of scent failing, therefore, at any time during the hunt, throws out the hounds, and prevents them from renewing it, until the scent is recovered, or "hit off." When the scent is " burning," hounds run almost mute, though at first, and at intervals after wards, they usually " throw their tongues" pretty freely. When all the hounds are giving tongue, they are said to be at " full cry," and "carry a good head," the scent being on such occasions so thoroughly diffused as to be" felt or " owned" breast high by probably every member of the pack. Sometimes scent becomes so faint as to be hardly perceptible, and when this is the case, the energy of the hounds abates considerably; they then run with their heads close to the ground, and are said to hunt a " cold" scent. Here, however, a little timely assistance from the huntsman is of the greatest moment in restoring animation to the pack. He waves his cap, blows his horn, and encourages his hounds, by well-known expressions, to renewed exertions. When, as frequently hap pens from various causes, the scent fails entirely—such as the fox crossing water, run ning through a drove of sheep, "heading back" in another direction, running along or lying upon the tops of walls or thick hedges, etc.—the hounds cease "giving tongue," suddenly stop, throw up their heads, and are " at fault." In this emergency, the "field" remains at a respectful distance behind, and the huntsman knowing, or at least guessing by experience which way the fox has taken, or the special means he has adopted for foiling the scent, allows his hounds at first, fora few moments, themselves to attempt to regain it; but failing that, and finding that his interference and assistance are neces sary, he instantly blows his horn, and calls or " lifts his hounds" from the place, and "takes a cast" round and round about the spot where the scent failed, cheering them on the while. Thus, by gradually his casts, the scent is very frequently recovered or "hit off," a circumstance which is soon made apparent by the whimper of recognition given by the hound that first "owns it," followed by the answering tongues of the whole pack. When the hounds, however, fail to "hit off" the scent, if the day be far advanced, they are taken home, or they are trotted on to some neighbor ing covert, which is drawn for a fresh fox.