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 19,000l. 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.
Fringilla (Illiger), s. The finch, a genus thus characterised:—
Bill straight and perfectly conical, short, hard, and sharp at the point; the ridge of the upper mandible rounded, and frequently advancing in an angle upon the forehead, the cutting edges of the under mandible bending a little inwards. Nostrils situated behind the horny bulging base of the hill, round, and hidden by the small frontal feathers. Wings short, having the third or fourth quill-feather the longest. Legs with the shank as short as, or shorter than, the middle toe, and with the toes divided.—Montagu.