on to a more distant refuge, as this was the only den in the vicinity, thus giving the eager dogs a chance, well deserved, to capture their wily quarry in the meantime before he could attain a second haven of safety. We were assured by his actions now that he was about all in, as otherwise he would not wish to take to earth, but would keep on running, for the fox usually seems to enjoy a race equally as much as the hunters and hounds, if not too closely pressed. "ASTRONOMFR" No. 2831 B. G. S. B., By FRANK-ANNIE In twenty minutes the baying of the dogs came faintly to us, and in a few short minutes Reynard was seen approaching the den where we stood guard to bar his entrance. His tongue was hanging out and he was casting fearful, furtive glances behind him. The dogs were indeed giving him a run for his money, as the saying goes. Presently, he discovered the party of hunters, and, with a look of hate on his face, he veered his course sharply to the left in order to avoid them, but this was. a fatal step-Old "Sailor" caught him as he turned and together they rolled over and over on the ground, the momentum at which both were go ing causing them to bowl over; the fox regained his feet, paused for one breathless moment, then rushed headlong into the whole pack, facing death with a courage unexcelled by man or beast. Thus ended the day's sport, each hunter lamenting that a fox so brave, so courageous, so fleet as this old red, had but one life to live for the enjoyment of the fox hunting fraternity. We could doubtless record many and varied hunts, and probably another writer could record better ones, but the one given above, we think, embodies the typical southern fox hunt, than which there is no more entrancing and soul-lifting sport this side of Eternity and High Heaven. In the North, they have fox hunts too, and they are in nearly all respects just like those had in the South, only in the North the hunters very frequently take along a gun and shoot the fox whenever the dogs bring him within range. The Coon Hound: The coon hound is not a recognized breed, but should be. Are all the years and generations of patient breeding by coon hound enthusiasts to amount to nought? We sorrowfully admit the truth-the coon hound breeder's efforts have, so far, been in vain. We mean in vain, so far as glory and honor are concerned; in vain, if these veteran coon hound breeders are looking for mere applause and nothing else. But happily, they are not looking for these empty honors; they did not start out to establish a breed of dogs, but to adapt already existing breeds to coon-chasing; this they have gloriously accomplished, and the only reward they expected or asked is that they be allowed to hunt coons with the dogs they have produced after years of toil by careful crossing and careful handling. There is a widespread difference of opinion among dog men as to the origin of the coon hound, some maintaining even that the coon hound constitutes a distinct breed, while others swear by the great horn spoon that the coon hound is nothing more than a fox hound trained on coons, and cite us to the fact that it was the fox hound (and not the coon hound) that was brought over to this country from across the seas to chase Br'er Fox, intimating that some of those brought over were found no account for that sly animal and just naturally were used for coon as a last resort. This is probably the truth, for it is a matter of record that the fox hound was introduced into this country, whereas there is no record of the coon hound ever having been introduced. Therefore, as the fox hound and the coon hound vary but little in general appearance (the fox hound only possessing more racey and graceful lines), it is natural to suppose that the coon hound as constituted to-day is nothing more or less than a fox hound, trained on coon. I cannot see any reason in this fact why coon hound fanciers should object, as the fox hound is as worthy a forbear as any dog on earth should wish to have. It would be just as reasonable to say that the rabbit hound is a distinct breed of dogs, as it would to say that the coon hound is a distinct breed of dogs. In the opinion of the writer, neither would be stating the fact, for even as the rabbit hound comes from the fox hound stock, so does the coon hound come from the fox hound stock, and we defy all dog fanciers and others to show us our mistake. Of course, in a certain sense the coon hound is a distinct breed, for it will chase nothing but coon, even as the thoroughly trained rabbit dog will chase nothing but rabbit. Of course a coon hound may chase an opossum, but this little nocturnal fellow is so much like the coon, we judge the scent is almost identical. Some coon hounds will chase any kind of varmint; they usually call these varmint dogs. Others, more thoroughly trained, will run nothing but coon or opossum. On the other hand, a fox hound will sometimes run a rabbit, but a thoroughly trained fox hound is supposed to run nothing but a fox. The dog, no matter what his breed or strain may chance to be, is nothing more than a creature of environment, as are all other creatures, whether they be animal or human beings. The nature of the country in which they live and the nature of the food they must necessarily live upon dictate their characteristics. If the hound lives in a country wherein rabbits are plentiful and there is an absence of practically all other game for food, the hound will take naturally to running rabbits; if the hound lives in a country infested by foxes, other game being practically absent, that hound will certainly chase foxes; if that hound lived in a land wherein only coon furnished a means of satisfying his hunger, we do not doubt that he would run coon. This is environment. We believe that if a setter or pointer lived in a land uninhabitated by birds or fowl of any description, that dog would eventually take to stalking or chasing the particular kind of game to be found there, whether it be coon, fox,, squirrel, rabbit or whatnot. The first law of nature-the law of self-preservation-would dictate to that dog the idea that if he would sustain life he must satisfy his hunger by chasing or stalking whatever game he could find, no matter what kind of game it chanced to be. And so the dog is strictly a creature of environment, as is every other living creature. We do not doubt that if away back there in the ages of long ago the setter or pointer had lived in a country where there were no birds, he would have become whatever kind of dog the game in the region compelled him to be, and we think it is just a matter of accident that the hound will chase the fox, that the setter and pointer will just point a covey of birds, or that a pit bull will not hunt at all, but just fight. Why is it that the pit bull will not hunt? Simply because he has never had occasion to hunt game for food. Usually he is the pet-the house dog-or watch-dog, and his mission (and he fulfills it well) is not to leave the yard, but to bar the approach of all starngers and undesirables. COON HUNTING: Gang around, boys! For here is a sport worthy your attention. The scent of the coon is identical to that of his big brother-the bear-hence a good coon dog works well on bear, and a good bear dog, likewise, works efficiently on coon. The coon is a masterful fisherman, hence he is usually found living in close proximity to streams. For trailing his ring-tailed majesty, give me a mixed pack, part still-trailers (Airedale terriers preferred) and some good old-fashioned coon-hounds. The reason I suggest Airedales to run with hounds is because they are greater fighters, while the hound possesses the coldest nose, that is, the most ability to track a cold trail. Together, this sort of a pack is invincible and will put any old coon up a tree in short order. In the North, most hunters hunt the coon by day and with a shotgun, with which the raccoon is shot from the tree the minute the dogs tree it. |