mowing-field: a New England term for a field kept permanently in grass for hay.
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grubby acres: referring to the grubs of various beetles found in the soil and under the leaves of its woodland.
BB: the name of shot about the size of sweet pea seed.
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Pigeon Henny’s coop: a pet name for one of the hens that looked very much like a pigeon.
shells: loaded cartridges used in a breech-loading gun.
bead drew dead: when the little metal ball on the end of the gun-barrel, used to aim by, showed that the gun was pointing directly at the fox.
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the mind in the wild animal world: how the animals may really feel when being chased, namely, not frightened to death, as we commonly think, but perhaps cool and collected, taking the chase as a matter of course, even enjoying it.
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The Chase: The sound of the hunting is likened to a chorus of singing voices; the changing sounds, as when the pack emerges from thick woods into open meadow, being likened to the various measures of the musical score; the whole musical composition or chorus being called The Chase.