The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
WHEN FOXES TRICK DOGS.
some Cunning Ways They Have ana Thetv
Erect Upon the Pack.

'Tf over there was a four.footed humoriEt
the fox is one said Samuel Barton Of Lancas-
ter county, Pa, where riding TO the hounds is Q
time-honored sport. Particularly does he show
this when, pursued by hounds, he doubles on his
trail. Whenever a fox wants TO rest, and at tho
same time enjoy the discontinue of the doga,
he doubles, and takes his pleasure from it
When the chase is fairly under way the baying
Of the hounds is in concert, and, to the hunter,
at least, is musical and harmonious. But the
moment the trail is lost the harmony is broken;
the long, melodious notes are changed TO harsh
barking or bowling, at irregular intervals. and
not until the trail is found again Is the musical
baying resumed. Whenever O pack OF hounds
is in pursuit Of a fox one particular dog, either
because Of his superior speed or scentiDg powers
or both, is the leader. Sometimes he is attended
by a second leader. In some packs not moro
than two dogs run by the trail. Tho rest sim
ply follow their leader, who runs a yard or two
to the side of the trail to which the wind blows,
and who neither carries his head up nor down,
but horizontally and slightly lowered. Tho
moment the leader loses the trail he stops and
gives two or three sharp. quick bowls. II the
pack is running closely together. the hounds
gather around him in the greatest confusion.
Noses go down almost 10 the ground. tails go up
IN the air. and each dog begins TO describe .
circle, which gradually widens, and must event.
ually come in contact with the trail again.
The first dog that finds the trail instantly ut
ters the long, musical note Of the chase, and the
pack gathers about him. If he is not the leader.
he carries the scent until the leader comes up,
when he resigns and falls in behind.
In doubling, the fox prepares for the ma
npuvre by making q great squirt and getting .
long distance in the lead OF the pack. He
knows that 1t is impossible for the dogs 10 come
his trail ana follows il back the distance he has
calculated on, havins marked the place of diver
gence As ne spurted. This is generally where a
log or fallen tree lies al right angles from the
trail. In passing that log he carried his trail
several feet from it-as far as he has Judged
that he can leap, from the trail 10 it when he
doubles back to the SPOT. When he returns he
clears the space between the trail and the log or
tree at one jump, follows it TO the other end,
takes a long leap from that end, and trisks
away TO some nearby knoll or stump, where he
crying by. for the hounds, of course, dash on
past the spot, H,they are going AT full speed
point 1mg ie where W the f foI donble dIs on his t nsEGf bet tEs
he discovers that the trail is lost and gives tho
signal. Then begins the confused barking and
the excited. nervous clrciing OF the hounds 10
recover the scent.
1T mag take a quarter OF an hour or twenty
minutes to accomplish this, and all the time
the fox sits. wherc he can ENJOY II null view OF
the worried dogs AS they run bowling and
bushy tail, standing now and then on his hind
feet 10 get a better view of some particularly
his exceeding enjoyment of the whole proceed.
ing, for which bis cunning is responsible, by
Tariops pirouettlngs and comicai capertnGs.
But The moment a dog strikes the trail and an.
nounces the fact to his fellows. the fox pricks up
his ears. gives his brush an extra flourish. and
bolts. in the opposite direction, TO repeat at his
leisure the same tick elsewhere, If ali goes well.
Another way the fox fools the best OF hounds
and gets fun out Of them Is TO lead them IN the
chase by relays. This foxes habitual4y do II
they are chased while raising tier younS.
At such times IN" male fox, suspecting trouble
Of this kind, lies several feet away from his
kennel, which may be a hole in the rocks, IA hoI.
low log, or the space beneath the roots OF a
falIen tree, and where his MAZE and her LITER ara
lying snug. When the hounds, in their beating
leading them "A lively chase. 4 weil.bred fox
hound will run from six TO ten hours al a pace
9 between HnsiSera 1eSe = and ten miles an hour, when AZ
may not SEQ the fox, he knows OF its proximity
his eagerncss TO overtake the quarry, AT tho
rate OF fifteen or twenty miles AN hour. such
a pace Is killing. and can be maintained on.yA
The willy fox knows this well, and when he
starts on a race in which his mate Is TO ai hin,
he Keeps but a short distance ahead OF he dogs,
oerb 5e1s s the ki m,Gs pace, lie keeps this up 70;
Is ready TO carry the trail NJ tho same pace,
while her mate diverges from it nj a right angie
race when she has led back To the post. The
hounds keep right on after the female. ignorant
She in turn L. relieved by the male fuN, WHO
starts In As good rs new; and this is kept Up
without cessation, so that in Two or three hour,
give up, the run. When thus Worn out, Win
the tr'il still warm under their noses, the HOUNDS
abandon the chase with dietrcssrui ycip,ugs, rs
II ise!ing that lhey, must be- victim, OF unfair
signal Of defeat is what tho foxes have been
worHing and waiting for. and the one that ism
hearing Immediately answers /, with +harJ,
aggravating. knocking cries. This is the finish.
ing blow, and the dogs sneak home in huui IL.
tion and silence. some of them Wi! gc' over
the disgrace by next day, some not for weeks.
whie others can never be induced 10 follow o
best dogs in tho pack"