Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-05-18

store for him. The snort
OF FOX hunting is enjoyed
IN the western part of
Maine for few weeks each year. and
IL is battle Of wits. The intelligence
OF the man and the trained instinct of
the mounds are matched against the
snre"uness OF the fox Even when
HShting for life against these odds the
FOX frequently comes out the winner.
ana the old hunters claim that the red
iox looks forward to these weeks of
excitement from year to year and
'eaiiy enjoys the sport as much as do
me men who hunt him.
IN other parts OF the country fox.s
are hunted with packs OF hounds and
on horseback. the chase often extend.
ing over miles OF country This Is the
Hhsish form OF the sport and no fire
arms are employed I'm Staying the m.
re amman. who is simply run to his
Seatn py the swift hounds. But I'm
Siaihe ana In some other parts of New
england the shotgun plays an impor.
tant part In the chase and dogs Of
especial keenness of scent arc trained
for this particular kind of work
Inc Maine method of hunting foxes
mas developed hound which has no
equal In the world for speed or sa.
Baclty. OF late years there has bean
d marked change in the kind of dogs
"hich are bred for fox hunting. The
modern hound bears about the same
resemblance to the old-fashioned fox
houhd as the coach horse does 10 the
lotIer' me hound Is faster and more
4aCy looking. Instead of following the
al OF the fox at long distance be-
nihu MS game. he rushes the chase
Whlle true upon the scent. and bae
enough TO oyertake an ordinary fox
IN fair race I'm an open field. Par.
ucularly is this kind of n doc bred
~ pucksheld. in Oxford county. and
hounds trained there have a world
wide reputation
An early start Is necessary on a Yox
hunt In Maine. The dogs have been
carefully confined for two or three
Gays before the hunt, and are well fed
ana given chance to rest. Soon aft
er daylight the hunt begins. USUALLY
Two uogs are taken by the hunters
VINO may nave companion. A shot
gun with plentiful supply of double
. shot Is required. and the hunter is
clothed SO that he may spend the dav
IN the open without Inconvenience
ne dogs go bounding away toward
the meadow wild with Excitement NJ
~" uay prospects. The course Is
taheh toward high wooded ridge Dor
Hering on the hill pasture. On com
ing up to the fence on the side of tbe
pasture the dogs suddenly becorne
possessed Of strange excite-,ent
Iheir noses search the ground eaper.
~. their tails stiffen and their backIes
rise. 1t is evident that n fox bas
oeen there. early I'm the morniro
8earchlng. perhapS, for field miro
Hound and round I'm widening circIes
20 the dogs searching for the trail and
crying to determine the direction I'm
which reynard left his housing When
AT last the trail is found up pa tho
dogS muzzles and the fact IS pro-
ciaiihed by the characteristic bugle
notes. The baying of no other dog
can equal that Of the foxhound for mn.
seal quality. There is a mournful note
IN ". and 1t has the peculiar vibrant
quality OF an echo. TO those who
love the chase II Is the swoetert sound
IN the world.
Inc ccg5 disappear. running neck
sod neck over the top Of the hill and
Gown INTO the valley which is covered
win q scrubby growth The sound of
lheir baying comes back toshe hunter
uow and then and tells him of tboir
"hercabouts. When startled bv tbis
lrst warming note Of the chase tho
FOX trots leisurely along. doublinr
upon his trail perhaps or circling tbo
hiI. Now comes in the skill Of the
lnnter who. If he knows the habits RI
'oXes well viii station himself o.,
some point where he can survey =
large open space and maybe ret n
snot at the fox when he comes a,,r,
IN doing 90 he has to take into az
count The direction in which fbe VIM
ia blowing. for scent from him will
cause the fox to suddenly turn In an.
other direction
Giving attention TO the bayino nj
the dogs the hunter soon picks ont
the place beneath some hill which the
lex Is Quih, likely 20 circle The hunt
er must cultivate his patience. and
wait In his tracks Now the bavinp
OF the dogs seems close a. hand and
then 1t dies away ia the distance. Mr.
Fox lodges and twists about. clrcIinp
irst this hin and then another one
but eventually the hunter knows he
@liI be making a circle Of the very hill