When the fox is killed, either in "the open" or elsewhere, the rider who is first in at "the death"—usually the huntsman—springs off his horse with a." whoo! whoop!" lashes the hounds off, and cut off the head, feet (pads), and tail (the brush). He then flings the carcass to the hounds, who tear it to pieces, and devour it in a very few minutes. The brush is usually presented to any lady who may happen to be in at the death, or is claimed as a trophy by one or other of the gentlemen present. The pads likewise are distributed amongst those who may wish to preserve mementos of the chase. As a. general rule, the huntsman, and several of the best mounted in the field, manage to be in, either at or immediately after the death, though instances are not wanting when. dur ing unusually protracted runs, the hounds have left every rider far behind, and hart' followed and killed their fox miles away from the spot where the last horseman had given in. A strong fox will frequently " live" before hounds for an hour or an hour and a. half; but cases have been known when this has been far exceeded, and when the run has extended to 00 or even 40 m., and has lasted all day, and even into the night. Young fox hounds begin their career by what is termed but this, however necessary it may be for teaching them; is considered inferior sport. to regular hunting.
The midland counties of England, such as Leicester, Northampton, Warwick, York shire, etc., are the best for hunting purposes in Great Britain; and owe their superiority in a great measure to two causes: 1st, the strict preservation and consequent number of foxes; and 2d, the extensive tracts of pasturage being favorable both for running and scent. The instinct of the fox leads him, as a general rule, to run down wind, that his
scent may not be blown to the hounds; he also takes advantage of every peculiarity in a country likely to offer him an advantage over his foes.
The fox-hunter must be possessed of considerable courage, united with coolness, and must be a judge of pace and have a good eye in "riding to hounds," to avoid tiring or " overmarking" his horse unnecessarily. Much of the excitement and pleasure of the fox-hunter consists in his successfully leaping the various hedges, ditches, fences, etc., encountered; but at the same time, a really skillful and humane rider, however well mounted, will never knowingly urge his horse at a fence or leap of any kind, unless he is positively certain it is within his horse's power; and if he finds his horse betrays symptoms of distress, he will rather turn its head homewards, and forego the chase, than overtax its courage and strength.
Much useful and entertaining information on fox-hunting occurs in Blaine's Entyclo padia of Rural Sports (London, Longmans); British _Rural Sports, by Stonehenge; Beck ford's Thoughts on Hunting; Berninzseences of a Huntsman; Nimrod; The Field news paper; etc.
Fox-hunting is not practiced after the English fashion in the northern states of America, but in the southern states from Maryland to Florida, it is a favorite amuse ment. The object of pursuit, however, is the gray fox (vulpes Virginianus), and the chase is not so severe, and seldom lasts so long as that of the common fox.