The Life of a Fox, Written by Himself; And, Extracts from the Diary of a Huntsman PDF Download

Author: Thomas Smith
Publisher: Theclassics.Us
ISBN: 9781230468051
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 62

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Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt: ... it was a bad cover to get away from with hounds; the reply was that generally the best runs are from such covers, as the fox can get away without being headed as they are in small covers, when every tailor out wishes to get a view of him. During this conversation a fox broke away from the other side, and they got well settled to him and after a good run killed, which is not often the case when found in this way; for the fox has time to prepare himself, and will hang about the cover until he is fit to go, during which he is abused as a dunghill brute, etc., but when he does go, catch him who can. But the same fox which has beaten hounds into fits almost, if he had been whipped up out of his kennel in a bit of gorse, would not have stood a burst of twenty minutes. A little observation in the upper countries may prove the above, for if a fox hangs about in a bit of gorse for half an hour or so before he breaks, it takes a great deal to kill him, though the pack were close at him when he started. And there are foxes that can beat any hounds, if they have time to prepare themselves, and have a fair start. In most covers there is a favourite quarter which holds a fox, and the sooner that is drawn the better; for if it is a good scenting day and there is a drag, the fox is aware of it, and will be off the moment he hears the huntsman's voice; therefore, as no man can tell till he has tried whether it is a good scenting day or not, he should adopt the safe plan and find him quickly if he can, particularly if late in the year. A fox generally lies where the rays of the sun can reach him during the day, --in two-yearold coppice wood, etc. It is worthy of notice that one cover will generally hold a fox, when another adjoining it seldom or ever does....