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It is a trait in our national character to be fond of hunting. It was
the occupation of our forefathers from the remotest posterity, and seems
to have descended, with even increased ardour, down to the present day.
Certainly there is no country that can boast of such expensive and
convenient receptacles for the maintenance of fox-hounds as Great
Britain. The kennel of the Duke of Richmond, at Goodwood, cost
19,000_l._ and Mr. Noel’s pack of hounds was sold to Sir William
Lowther, Bart. for the large sum of 1,000 guineas.
* * * * *
The chief excellence in a pack of fox-hounds is the head they carry,
taken collectively; and on this and the fineness of their noses depend
their speed. Mr. Beckford says, “that hounds should go, like the
horses of the sun, all abreast.” Five and twenty couple are a
sufficient force at any time to be taken into the field; they are a
match for any fox, supposing them steady and their speed nearly equal:
too heavy dogs always do more mischief than service. Hounds that are
meant to run well together should never have too many old ones amongst
them. Five or six seasons are sufficient to destroy the speed of most
dogs, although this depends much on constitution. We are informed of a
spayed bitch, called Lilly, which ran at the head of Mr. Paxton’s
harriers at Newmarket, for five seasons; a singular instance of
undiminished speed.—_Daniel_—_Beckford_—_Brown._
FOXHUNTER, _s._ A man whose chief ambition is to show his bravery in
hunting foxes.
FOXTRAP, _s._ A gin or snare to catch foxes.
FRACTURE, _s._ Separation of continuous parts; the breaking of a
bone.
FRACTURE, _v._ To break a bone.