The New York herald., 1877-10-25
FOX HUNTING IN ENGLAND.


In this connection word about iox hunting in Eng
land may not be uninterostng or nearly one hun
dred and twenty hunting establishments In Great
Britain which follow tho sport year nearly ai
maintained IN the midland counties o Engiand-such
Leicester Northampton, Warwick, Yorkshire &c. In
these counties preserved stringent mo
laws and nature Of the country IS suchoonsistng
Of extensive pastures and gently "ron.n land-lhat
IL is peculiarly favorable both for running ana for
scent Most OF the hunting establishments are sup
por ed by subscriptions, lew. however, being main
taned w wealthy private gentlemen, who take en-
thusiastc interest in the SPORT The maintenance Of
such an establishment is enormously expensive, a
singh, pack Of hounds sometimes costing several
thousand guincas; while the other i,ems--such
stabng, wages oil huntsmcn, &c reach good round
sum annually. The pack may CONSIST OF from forty to
a hundred aud twenty hounds, though seventy Is
good average number. In origin the ioxhound Is pro-
baby cross between the staghound or bloodhound
and the greyhound. II Is generally whito In color,
with spots OF black or tan, and Is capable Of great
speed aud endurance, the pack sometimes following
the iox Tor eight or ten hours at hard run before
capturing it Tho hounds vcry carefully
reared trained aud cared for thor welfare occupying
the attention OF the huDisman constantly during the
whole year. The most celebrated packs now in
arc tho .Quorn.n "Dakes (bclonging to the Duke OF
Rutlandl "Bevoirr and Pytchey, at Melton-Mowbrly,
the famous hunting centre o Leiccstershirc; tho
Duke OF Beaulotts, Lord Fitzharcins's Oakley, "v.
W H. - BIackmore Vale, Atncrstone, B,ccstcr and
others In Gloucester Tho packs are generally used
on alter nate days or twice week. Tho horses used
Tor tne sport are usually born and trained IT. and
nre necessarily light limbed capable OF great ondur-
anoc an good Jumpers. nrst rate hunter costs from
5U to 500 guineas
Tnc conuucl OF the sport Is directly in charge OF tho
,,huntsnapr whose pack II IN the neld On the night
before the iDleuacd hunt gamekecpcr or earth
peri goes about To the various nolos oi the iox
vita tho HABITS Of whioh he IL perfectly familiar
knowing every hiding place IN tne country Tor miles
around. ReyBard, returning al dawn from his nights
prowlIng and npdng every one OF his accus-
toned holes mock AIDED, seeks refuge Ia nerbbor
ng thickct to enjoy his prey and remain IN seciusion
untii ghtiaiL rnc hour Of the "meetn ~ usually
IRON 10 eovcn A. NJ, aud At tna appointed place
assemble those gentlemen ,and sometimes ladies) VINO
intend TO parc pate IN the days sport To the
hounds 'throw on.n When tue covert is reached tho
hound are lot loose at signaI from tho master 70
the ''whIpper in" anj as soon tho iox Is started
INTO the open country and fairly OF the view
balI0o" rs gwen by whoever sees or "vicwp
him getting away. Tho whole Held then joins
IN tho hue aud cry Tho best riders, OF
course following the pack as closely ~
possible, each ono ambitious to be nrst ''in At tho
DEATH" tho post Of honor at the end OF The chase
II sometimes happens tnat the hounds como upon thc