DRAG
—is a sporting term in HUNTING, and used exactly in the same sense with THE FOX, as trail is with THE HARE. Upon throwing THE HOUNDS into covert, to draw for a FOX, any single hound giving tongue, is said to CHALLENGE, and to have hit upon drag; that is, to have come upon the foot or scent of the fox, where he had been in the night or early part of the morning, before he retired to secrete himself for the day. When it was the custom to be at the covert side so soon as there was day-light sufficient to RIDE up to the HOUNDS, drag was speedily obtained; and in many instances a GOOD DRAG proved better than a bad chase; but in the present fashion of going to covert, and throwing off at mid-day, drag is but very little known, and but of trifling use if found; for the SCENT must, from the great length of time, have so generally died away, and so partially remained, that no expectation can be entertained of THE HOUNDS carrying it up to THE GAME.