The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-20


 I pricked. The humanitarians would have us believe that he was thinking of com ing death. For my own part, was con- ylnced that his only concern was deciding the nearest place of refuge, also the quickest and best way of arriving there unseen. I do not believe that his medita- tions were in any way tinged with alarm.
 Having decided upon his future move ments, he cantered toward me and made 1 for the open. Here a crowd of foot peo- pie on the road near by started shouting. Back then he came and dashed toward the l opposite side, but only to find here a
 larger concourse of horsemen, who, in 1 spite of the masters instruction, had moved on from where they had been
 ordered to stand. Finding escape cut off at both points, back came the fox to his den. He sniffs it again, his instinct l being to try if he can find some means of entering. He quickly decides it's no go ! and realizes as well that the time has gone for further delay, as the hounds are very close to his brush. Having made up his mind, in a moment he slipped out 1 Of covert unseen by the foot folk and started down a ditch, increasing his speed as he went.
 | Though he hears the pack in full cry 1 behind him, he does not show fear; for l l is too full of the plans he has made for his safety. He must baffle the pack at all hazards: thus he goes straight through sheep pens or cattle inclosures, with the object of killing the scent; he swims l across water and chooses those portions | of the ground where he knows that the scent will cling least Or, as he goes he will seek out another Br'er Fox, with the object of shifting with cunning the burden ! of the chase, which lies hard upon his | heels I recently saw fox with his | tongue hanging out, evidently fairly spent, watching with pricked ears and complete | satisfaction the hounds racing away at 1 full cry after one of his brethren, whom l he had been clever enough to compel to change places with him. The thought of the death he had escaped was not bother ing him much so absorbed was he in con- 1 graduating himself upon his own cute ness and strategum.
 The fact, too that foxes will turn aside to kill poultry or ground game while be- | ing hunted goes to prove that they can | have no sense of great fear when pur- sued
 | There comes a tilne however, when with | failing strength and laboring breath the | hunted fox has perforce to realize that , all his wiles have failed. Even at that moment no such thing as fear enters his 1 heart; he runs game to the last and dies
 
 killed there are many who live to a ripe old age, having triumphantly out witted hounds all their lives and been poachers of note from their youth. Ma l ture gives one great compensation to all hunted animals, which is that as their strength fails so does their scent. Hence 1 the frequent escape of fox just as we ! think we have caught him. Incidentally, I it may be interesting to remember the | fact that, in one of the longest and most severe runs upon record-on February 2, 1S66-which lasted for three hours and forty-three minutes, the fox escaped. l It is impossible to prove that there is | no cruelty in hunting. But that the beasts 1 of the chase do not feel great fear in the l sense that human being would feel un- der similar circumstances, the writer for | one is certain.
 1 During the clubbing season the young hound has much to learn, and most of it he derives from the old hounds, who are picked for their reliable noses and lack of vices. When scent temporarily fails it is the old hounds who will perseyere and fin- ally hit it off, killing their fox in spite of all handcaps. This is a profitable lesson to the youngster, who might other wise become lacking in proper persever- ance, To say that foxhound puppy is not one of the most fascinating produc- tions in the animal world is not to know him, but although such a charming com panion he may not take kindly to hunting unless those who walk" him have with proper handling given him an experience of what it means and how interesting it may become from the start.
 1 In addition to this he learns early that briars, thorns and nettles have to be met | with and the laceration and discomfort | they create endured with a growing pa tience which ends in knowledge of how 1 best to negotiate all three. The example shown by the older hounds and the first | taste of blood, however, quickly cure any lack of interest. Then. having acquired I a desire to hunt the puppy will have a tendency to chase anything and every- thing, and the woods in the early days 1 resound with the cries of ''Warr rioti' | War rabbit" and the cracks of whips. Gradually, he learns that he must not chase rabbits, but it takes time and often considerable punishment before the
 excited puppy has acquired sufficient self l control to resist chasing hare when one
 gets up into the open field right under | bis nose.
 | think next to the rider the horse is the 1 ono who enjoys hunting the most, The
 sight, sounds, racing speed and general
 excitement delight him in the extreme Tn every field of horsemen. however, there l may be horse or two which do not enjoy
 themselves, but the fault generally is not with them but with their riders.
 l The reproduction on this page of ths | Foxhound, Bourbon Civilians strain) is one of'the many champion Foxhounds owned by the Rookwood Kennels at Lex ington, ky. Bourbon won first in speed and driving class in the all-age stake of the Brunswick Fur club trials in October l 1902, defeating some of the best known l hounds in the United States, including the celebrated field winner. Breeze. In ad- dtion to his field trial winnings Bour- bon is also bench show winner, rare combination. This kennel holds the unique I record of having bred and owned 14 cham pions in Foxhounds. while no other hound kennel has the distinction of ever breed ing but one
 II Among their breeders and stud dogs are many champions, all producing better pups every year, and their musical notes
 are sung from coast to coast--in fact, wherever good pack of F'oxhounds is found, the blood lines will almost in all cases trace to this kennel on some side. II THE BLOODHOUND