FOXES-FOX-HUNTING. first English edition appeared in 1563, in one vol. folio. Sanctioned by the bishops, it was ordered, by a canon of the Anglican Convocation, to be placed in the hall of every episcopal palace in England, and has gone through innumerable editions. It is not a very critical work, as might naturally be supposed, and Roman Catholics deny its trustworthiness. F. died in 1587, in his 70th year, and was buried in the chancel of St Giles's, Cripplegate, London. Next is under the direct superintendence and control of one experienced gentleman, the master, and under him again rank the huntsman, whippers-in, earthstopper, kennel-servants, &c. A pack' is composed of from 20 to 60 couples of hounds, the number greatly depending upon the frequency of huntingdays: thus, some packs hunt six days, some tive days, others four, and many only two days a week; 30 couple of hounds is a good average; these are carefully reared, fed, and otherwise attended to. FOXES AND FOX-HUNTING. The law with of course, has the general superintendence of the The master himself, as a matter reference to fox-hunting, which is a matter of a servants, hounds, and horses; and in the hunting good deal of importance in many parts of the field is general director of the proceedings. country, seems to stand thus in England: Though to him come the huntsman and one or two in general all persons who go upon another's lands without permission are trespassers in the eye of the whippers-in' (whips'). The huntsman, who is law, yet there are some cases where the trespass is practically the most important personage in the said to be justifiable,' says Mr Paterson, the most field, requires to see that his hounds are prorecent writer on the subject, and he quotes Black-fed to the place of meeting on hunting-days; perly managed and fed in their kennels; duly stone's dictum to the effect that the common law and, what is of more consequence still, that they warrants the hunting of ravenous beasts of prey, as receive fair-play in the field, and find and hunt badgers and foxes, in another man's land, because their foxes in true style. The huntsman requires the destroying such creatures is said to be profitable to be a man of great nerve and much activity: to the public' (3 Black. Com. 212). Care must be he should also have a good head, a clear ringing taken, however, that no damage be done beyond voice, a keen eye, and above all he must be a firstwhat is necessary for the public good, for that is the ground on which alone the legal character of fox- in the country over which he hunts. He has often rate horseman, and know thoroughly every point hunting can be maintained. It was found, moreover, in the Earl of Essex v. Capel (1 Chitt. Game back;' a duty requiring firmness of character, with to restrain heedless riders, and keep the field L. 114), that though pursuing a fox on another's a quiet and civil manner. With these necessary land be justifiable, yet, if it take to earth, or to a house there, it is not justifiable to dig or break doors qualifications, and having so many responsible for it. In Scotland, where, from the character of duties on his shoulders, he is treated with great the country, fox-hunting is often impossible, it respect by those for whom he provides sport: he never has become a national sport to the same extent as in England; and consequently, the rule that one is entitled to enter on the lands of another for the purpose of killing a fox, has been confined to those cases in which he is pursued simply as a noxious beast, and fox-hunting for sport without leave has been held to be punishable as a trespass, and the trespasser held liable for whatever surfacedamage he may occasion. In Ireland (by 1 and 2 Will. IV. c. 32, s. 35), persons pursuing with hounds any fox, hare, or deer which has been started elsewhere on another's land, are exempted from summary proceedings for trespass. FOXGLOVE. See DIGITALIS. FOXHOUND, a kind of dog much used in Britain for the sport of fox-hunting. It is not quite so large as the staghound, and is perhaps a mixed breed between the staghound or the bloodhound and the greyhound. The colour is commonly white, with large patches of black and tan colour. Their speed and perseverance are remarkable; they have been known to run hard for ten hours before they came up with and killed the fox, and the sportsmen were either thrown out, or changed horses three times.' FOX HUNTING, from its exciting nature, as well as from the qualities of daring courage and cool calculation requisite in those who thoroughly follow and appreciate it, has long been termed the king of British national sports. is mounted on the best horses his master can produce, and may be said to conduct and direct the hunt from the moment the fox is found till the moment of its death-from 'find to finish.' The duties of the first whipper-in, though not so siderable: for instance, he takes a certain manage responsible as those of the huntsman, are still conment of the hounds in kennel, assists in conducting the hounds to the 'meet,' and aids the huntsman of the management of hounds, and of fox-hunting in various ways during the run. His knowledge generally, must at the same time be such as to enable him to occupy the huntsman's place in an emergency. The 'second whip's' principal duty is that of bringing up and urging on lagging hounds in the field, by lashing and rating.' hunts, however, a second whipper-in is dispensed with. burrow or In many A considerable range of country is necessary for the full enjoyment of fox-hunting, the best being that which is diversified by pasturage and plantation. Being a nocturnal feeder, the fox quits his brake, or a plantation or covert of underwoodearth--which is generally in a gorse during the night, and returns to it in the morning, and this fact is taken advantage of by those who hunt him for sport. The day and place of 'the meet' are duly advertised, and on the night before the hunt, the coverts to be 'drawn' next day are visited either by a duly appointed earth-stopper or by the gamekeeper, who, knowing that the foxes are from In Great Britain, there are upwards of 100 home, proceeds, spade in hand, from one hole to hunting establishments, of which by far the another, filling them up with earth and brushgreater proportion belong to the counties south of wood as he goes. Thus, the fox, upon returning the Tweed. Fox-hunting establishments-which at dawn to his earth,' finds ingress denied, and so are in most instances supported by subscription, betakes himself to some neighbouring thicket, or to though sometimes owned by private gentlemen of some unenclosed cover of gorse, rushes, &c., where wealth and influence are organised and maintained he makes a temporary lair or 'kennel.' When at a very considerable annual cost, the price of a the earths have been carefully closed, the earthsingle pack of foxhounds sometimes amounting stopper returns home and informs the huntsman, to several thousand guineas. Every establishment or first whip,' as to their number and locality, FOX-HUNTING. in allowing the hounds and huntsman to get away and that information forms a guide for the proceedings of the following day. (After the hunt is over, the earths are reopened, and as little trace as possible left of the work.) The hour of the meet' is usually ten or eleven o'clock A. M., and at the appointed place assemble the whole field, including inaster, huntsman, whippers-in, hounds, and those gentlemen (and frequently ladies) who intend either to participate in the day's sport, or merely to see the 'hounds throw off."' a covert is reached, the huntsman, by a wave of When his hand, or a few familiar words, such as Eu in! eu in there! good dogs!' 'throws in' his hounds, following immediately after with the first whip.' The mounted gentlemen usually remain outside, and take their directions as to stance, &c., from the master, who from this time forward does his best to control and direct their movements. In fact, the master may be said to have the control of the 'field' that is, the ridersand the huntsman that of the hounds and hunt. The second whip being posted at the covert side, near where it is expected a fox may burst through or break,' one or two of the more eager riders are sometimes permitted to jump their horses into the covert, if it be large, to assist in the finding of the fox. Those who remain outside then prepare themselves for their work, and eagerly deference to the master, chooses his own place listen for the first token of the presence of rey- in the hunt, and does his best, independently nard; this is betrayed by a slight but anxious of his neighbours, to keep at a certain distance, whimper or whine from the challenging' hound-not directly in the line, but to one side and in that is, the hound (usually an old and experienced the rear of the hounds. When a rider happens one) that first perceives or 'hits' the scent of a fox to be near the pack at the first burst, and gets -and is soon followed by others, who instantly a good position in following them, he is said rush to his side. The huntsman, if he be tolerably to get well away with the hounds;' and if well certain that the game scented is no other than mounted and a skilful rider, his chances of both a fox, at judicious intervals urges on his hounds viewing the hunt and being in at the death' are by familiar expressions, such as 'Yoicks, yoicks, very considerable. And now, as we have already have at him!' 'Push him up!' &c., till the said, begins the grand excitement of the day; the fox is fairly roused from his kennel, and goes fox being fresh, races away at tremendous speed, away. It not unfrequently happens while drawing followed by perhaps upwards of twenty couple coverts, that hounds will come suddenly upon a of hounds at full cry. fox, and seize him before he has time to escape. (a southerly wind and cloudy sky' having long This is termed chopping, and is always to be retained favour), the scent of the retreating fox If the day is propitious prevented if possible. If the covert be very thick, lies well, especially at first, when it is called a fox may leave his kennel unperceived; and when burning' or 'breast high,' and is for many minutes he does so, he usually runs through or round owned by at least all the leading hounds in the the covert for a considerable distance before pack, though, perhaps, the object of pursuit itself quitting it for the open fields. his foil,' by doubling back and forward on the the hunt over hedges, ditches, and gates, across He may also run is far ahead, and out of sight; and away streams same path or track, and thus possibly baffle the rivers, railways, arable land, and grass pastures, hounds, even when they own his scent.' In large perhaps for several miles before a single check coverts, too, a fox frequently 'hangs;' that is, he remains in it for a long time before going away. by scent, and does not, like the greyhound, depend occurs. Now, the foxhound hunts almost entirely The person who first sees the fox 'break cover,' or, upon the eye. in other words, 'views him away,' should always allow him a certain 'law' before giving the 'view halloo,' as a fox will frequently turn or 'head back' into covert if he hears any unusual noise at the instant of his quitting it. When, however, the person or persons who are watching see that the fox is really off, notice is instantly given to those within the thicket, and those without, by the cry of 'Hou-y! hou-y! Tallyho! Gone away! GONE AW--AY!!' upon which the huntsman blows his horn to collect his hounds; the whipper-in drives out lagging members of the pack, either with his whip or by some cry; the master restrains the more impatient of the riders till the huntsman and hounds have 'settled to' their fox; and then be and the entire field join in the chase, and the first, and frequently the most exciting, part of the day's proceedings has commenced-the fox has 'broke cover,' the hounds have been laid on,' and the field has entered on its impetuous 'first burst.' A certain etiquette is, however, absolutely necessary FOX-HUNTING. crossing water, running through a drove of sheep, 'heading back' in another direction, running along or lying upon the tops of walls or thick hedges, &c.-the hounds cease 6 giving tongue,' suddenly stop, throw up their heads, and are at fault.' In this emergency, the 'field' remains at a respectful distance behind, and the huntsman knowing, or at least guessing by experience which way the fox has taken, or the special means he has adopted for foiling the scent, allows his hounds at first, for a few moments, themselves to attempt to regain it; but failing that, and finding that his interference and assistance are necessary, he instantly blows his hora, and calls or 'lifts his hounds' from the place, and takes a cast' round and round about the spot where the scent failed, cheering them on the while. Thus, by gradually widening his casts, the scent is very frequently recovered or 'hit off,' a circumstance which is soon made apparent by the whimper of recognition given by the hound that first 'owns it,' followed by the answering tongues of the whole pack. When the hounds, however, fail to hit off' the scent, if the day be far advanced, they are taken home, or they are trotted on to some neighbouring covert, which is drawn for a fresh fox. · When the fox is killed, either in the open' or elsewhere, the rider who is first in at 'the death' usually the huntsman-springs off his horse, with a Whoo! whoop!' lashes the hounds off, and cuts off the head, feet (pads), and tail (the brush). He then flings the carcass to the hounds, who tear it to pieces, and devour it in a very few minutes. The brush is usually presented to any lady who may happen to be in at the death, or is claimed as a trophy by one or other of the gentlemen present. The pads likewise are distributed amongst those who may wish to preserve mementos of the chase. As a general rule, the huntsman, and several of the best mounted in the field, manage to be in, either at or immediately after the death, though instances are not wanting when, during unusually protracted runs, the hounds have left every rider far behind, and have followed and killed their fox miles away from the spot where the last horseman had given in. A strong fox will 'live' before hounds on an average for an hour or an hour and a half; but cases have been known when this has been far exceeded, and when the run has extended to thirty or even forty miles. and has lasted all day, and even into the night. Young foxhounds begin their career by what is termed cub-hunting; but this, however necessary it may be for teaching them, is considered inferior sport to regular hunting. The midland counties of England, such as Leicester, Northampton, Warwick, Yorkshire, &c., are the be Blood Hunter clearing a stone wall in good style (from Blaine's Encyclopædia of Rural Sports). for hunting purposes in Great Britain; and owe their superiority in a great measure to two causes: 1st, the strict preservation and consequent number of foxes; and 2d, the extensive tracts of pasturage being favourable both for running and scent. The instinct of the fox leads him, as a general rule, to run down wind, that his scent may not be blown to the hounds; he also takes advantage of every peculiarity in a country likely to offer him an advantage over his foes. The fox-hunter must be possessed of considerable courage, united with coolness, and must be a judge of pace and have a good eye in 'riding to hounds.' to avoid tiring or 'overmarking' his horse unnecessarily. Much of the excitement and pleasure of the fox-hunter consists in his successfully leaping | the various hedges, ditches, fences, &c., encountered; but at the same time, a really skilful and humane rider, however well mounted, will never knowingly urge his horse at a fence or leap of any kind, unless he is positively certain it is within his horse's power; and if he finds his horse betrays symptoms of distress, he will rather turn its head homewards, and forego the chase, than overtax its courage and strength. Much useful and entertaining information on foxhunting occurs in Blaine's Encyclopedia of Rurai Sports (London, Longmans); British Rural Sports by Stonehenge; Beckford's Thoughts on Hunting; Reminiscences of a Iluntsman; Nimrod; The Field newspaper; &c. Fox-hunting is not practised after the English FOX ISLANDS-FOYLE fashion in the northern states of America, but in the southern states from Maryland to Florida, it is a favourite amusement. The object of pursuit, however, is the Gray Fox (Vulpes Virginianus), and the chase is not so severe, and seldom lasts so long as that of the common fox. obtuse panicle abundantly covered with silvery hairs, is one of the best pasture grasses of Britain, but is not valued by New England farmers, on account of its lightness in proportion to its bulk. In Britain it is reckoned a good grass for lawns. It bears drought well. The JOINTED FOXTAIL GRASS (A. geni FOX ISLANDS, another name for the ALEU-culatus), with an ascending culm bent at the joints, TIAN ISLANDS (q. v.). FOX RIVER is the name of two considerable streams in the United States of America, both of them rising in Wisconsin.-1. The F. R., or Pishtaka, is an affluent of the Illinois, which is itself a tributary of the Mississippi. It is 200 miles long, and is valuable chiefly for its water-power.-2. The F. R., or Neenah, after a course of about the same length, falls into Green Bay in Lake Michigan. divided into two sections by Lake Winnebago, the upper one being connected by a canal with the Wisconsin, so as to link together the Mississippi and the Great Lakes of the St Lawrence. It is FOX SHARK, or THRESHER (Alopias or Alopecias), a genus of sharks, containing only one known species (A. vulpes), an inhabitant of the Mediterranean and of the Atlantic, and occasionally Fox Shark (Alopias vulpes). seen on the British coasts. The snout is short and conical; the spout-holes are very small; the mouth in not so large as that of the white shark, nor the teeth so formidable; but the F. S. is extremely bold and voracious, readily attacking grampuses or dolphins much larger than itself. Its most remark able peculiarity is the great elongation of the upper lobe of the tail-fin, which is nearly equal in length to the whole body, and into which the vertebral column extends. Of this it makes use as a weapon, striking with great force. It is said to be not uncommon for a whole herd of dolphins to take of the tail of a fox tail, it has acquired the name of Thresher. It FOXTAIL GRASS sometimes sown. is very common in moist places, and cattle are fond of it, but it is a small grass. The SLENDER FOXTAIL GRASS (A. agrestis) is an annual or biennial, of little value except for light sandy soils, on which it is A foreign species (A. nigricans), a native of the continent of Europe and of Siberia, has been introduced into Britain, and appears likely to prove valuable. It has somewhat creeping roots, is a little larger and stronger than A. pratensis. and is rather earlier. FOY, MAXIMILIEN SÉBASTIEN, a distinguished French general and orator, was born at Ham, 3d February 1775. In 1791, he was one of the volunteers who hastened to defend the frontiers of their country against foreign invasion, and during the next nine years served with distinction under Dumouriez, Moreau, and Massena. In 1800, he was raised to the rank of adjutant-general in the division of Moncey, in the army of the Rhine, which marched through Switzerland into Italy, where he commanded the vanguard of the army in 1801. In 1805, he commanded the artillery of the second division in the Austrian campaign. In 1807, Napoleon sent him to Turkey at the head of 1200 artillerymen, to assist Sultan Selim against the Russians and British. After the revolution in which Selim was dethroned, F., under the direction of the French ambassador, General Sebastiani, defended Constantinople and the Strait of the British admiral, was obliged to retire with loss. Dardanelles so effectively, that Duckworth, the From 1808 to 1812, F. was general of division of to advantage in conducting the retreat of the army in Portugal. His talents were exhibited French army across the Douro. at all the battles of the Pyrenees, and at Orthez, F. was present in 1814, was dangerously wounded. In the campaign of 1815, he commanded a division on the fifteenth time. In 1819, he was elected deputy by field of Waterloo, where he was wounded for the the department of Aisne. In the chamber, he was the constant advocate of constitutional liberty, and shewed great rhetorical talent and knowledge of political economy. He distinguished himself par. the ticularly by his eloquence in opposing the war against Spain in 1823. F. died at Paris, November her husband's papers, a Histoire de la Guerre de 28, 1825. Madame Foy published, in 1827, from la Péninsule. In the previous year appeared his Discours, with a biography. It FOYERS, a stream rising in the Monadleadh Mountains, in the middle of Inverness-shire. runs 12 miles north, and falls into the east side of (Alopecurus), a genus of Loch Ness, nearly opposite Mealfourvounie Moun tain. It has two celebrated falls within a mile and a half of its mouth, where the stream rushes through a deep, narrow ravine in the hills, skirting the east side of the loch. The upper fall is 30 feet high. The stream then descends 30 feet in a The Fall of Foyers) is 90 feet high. It is the finest quarter of a mile. The lower fall (specially called cascade in Britain. Grasses, distinguished by a spiked panicle, two glumes nearly equal, and generally united at the base, enclosing a single floret which has a single palea, with an awn rising from the base. The species are chiefly FOYLE, LOUGH, an inlet of the Atlantic, on the natives of temperate north coast of Ireland, between the counties of Derry 4, glumes; b, floret. countries, and about six and Donegal. It is triangular in form, 16 miles are British. MEADOW long from north-east to south-west, 1 mile wide at FOXTAIL GRASS (A. pratensis), which has an erect its entrance, and 9 miles broad along its south side. smooth cu'm about 1-2 feet high, and a cylindrical A great part is dry at low water, and its west side Foxtail Grass (Alopecurus pratensis): FRA BARTOLOMEO-FRACTIONS. alone is navigable. Vessels of 600 tons ascend the PORTA. FRACASTORO, GIROLAMO, an Italian savant and philosopher, farious for the universality of his learning, was born of an ancient family at Verona in 1483. At the age of 19, he was appointed professor of logic in the university of Padua. But his vast knowledge embraced the most divergent sciences, and on account of his eminence in the a b d bd ing all the denominators for the common denomi b practice of medicine, he was elected physician of the multiply by a a a с ac FRACTIONS, CONTINUED. If ==a and 71 A B b+ and 21 = c +, a B and.... ni and = n + &c. mr M1 Council of Trent. His Latin verse also exhibits FRA'CTED, heraldically, signifies broken asunder. tinued fraction. If we consider the FRACTION. In Arithmetic, a fraction is any part or parts of a unit or whole, and it consists of (2) a + two members, a denominator and a numerator, whereof the former shews into how many parts the unit is divided, and the latter shews how many of them are taken in a given case. Thus denotes that the unit is divided into four parts, and that three of them are taken; and more generally denotes that the unit is divided into 6 parts, and that a of them are taken. A fraction is called proper when the numerator is less than the denoninator, and improper when the numerator is greater than the denominator. In Algebra, any quantity is called a fraction, although a and b are not necessarily representatives of whole numbers, as they would require to be if the fraction be an arithretical fraction. The algebraical fraction just b means that any quantity affected by it is to be multiplied by a, and divided by b. This definition, however, through the greater generality of algebra, includes that of an arithmetical fraction. The rules for the addition and multiplication of fractions are the same in algebra and arithmetic. To add two or 1 more fractions together, we must bring them to a 4+ common denominator, and add the numerators for a new numerator, and take the common denominator for the new denominator. Thus if formed by taking into account parts only of the denominator in the continued fraction, we obtain a series of fractions converging to the value of These converging fractions are always approximating to the value of, and are alternately greater and less than it. Throughout the series, the 1st, 3d, 5th, 7th, &c., are each below the true value, while the 2d, 4th, &c., are above it; or vice versa, according as be shewn that the successive converging fractions the original fraction is improper or proper. It can approach nearer and nearer to the true value of the continued fraction. Converging fractions are of great use in the summation of infinite series. |