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.

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 five 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 of course, has the general superintendence of the attended to. The master himself, as a matter servants, hounds, and horses; and in the huuting. field is general director of the proceedings. Next to him come the huntsman and one or two whippers-in' (whips'). The huntsman, who is field, requires to see that his hounds are propractically the most important personage in the

FOXES AND FOX-HUNTING. The law with reference to fox-hunting, which is a matter of a good deal of importance in many parts of the Cuntry, seems to stand thus in England: Though in general all persons who go upon another's lands without permission are trespassers in the eye of the law, yet there are some cases where the trespass is said to be justifiable,' says Mr Paterson, the most recent writer on the subject, and he quotes Black-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 led to the place of meeting on hunting-days; 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 rate horseman, and know thoroughly every point ground on which alone the legal character of fox- in the country over which he hunts. He has often 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 duties on his shoulders, he is treated with great qualifications, and having so many responsible for it. In Scotland, where, from the character of the country, fox-hunting is often impossible, it respect by those for whom he provides sport: he is mounted on the best horses his master never has become a national sport to the same extent as in England; and consequently, the rule direct the hunt from the moment the fox is can produce, and may be said to conduct and that one is entitled to enter on the lands of another found till the moment of its death-from 'find 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 surface damage 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.

to finish.'

The duties of the first whipper-in, though not so responsible as those of the huntsman, are still considerable for instance, he takes a certain management 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 in the field, by lashing and rating." that of bringing up and urging on lagging hounds hunts, however, a second whipper-in is dispensed

with.

In many

A considerable range of country is necessary for the full enjoyment of fox-hunting, the best being tion. Being a nocturnal feeder, the fox quits his that which is diversified by pasturage and plantaburrow or earth'-which is generally in a gorse brake, or a plantation or covert of underwood– 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 local ty,

FOX-HUNTING.

and that information forms a guide for the pro- in allowing the hounds and huntsman to get away ceedings of the following day. (After the hunt first; but after that, each rider, with a certain is over, the earths are reopened, and as little trace

6

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 master, 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. When a covert is reached, the huntsman, by a wave of 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, 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. If the day is propitious 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 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. He may also 'run is far ahead, and out of sight; and away streams his foil,' by doubling back and forward on the the hunt over hedges, ditches, and gates, across 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 occurs. Now, the foxhound hunts almost entirely remains in it for a long time before going away. by scent, and does not, like the greyhound, depend The person who first sees the fox break cover,' or, upon the eye. The fact of scent failing, therein other words, 'views him away,' should always fore, at any time during the hunt, throws out the allow him a certain 'law' before giving the 'view hounds, and prevents them from renewing it, until halloo,' as a fox will frequently turn or head the scent is recovered, or hit off.' When the back' into covert if he hears any unusual noise at scent is 'burning,' hounds run almost mute, though the instant of his quitting it. When, however, the at first, and at intervals afterwards, they usually person or persons who are watching see that the throw their tongues' pretty freely. When all the fox is really off, notice is instantly given to those hounds are giving tongue, they are said to be at within the thicket, and those without, by the cry 'full cry,' and 'carry a good head,' the scent being of 'Hou-y! hou-y! Tallyho! Gone away! GONE on such occasions so thoroughly diffused as to be felt AW-AY!!' upon which the huntsman blows his or 'owned' breast high by probably every member of horn to collect his hounds; the whipper-in drives the pack. Sometimes scent becomes so faint as to be out lagging members of the pack, either with his hardly perceptible, and when this is the case, the whip or by some cry; the master restrains the energy of the hounds abates considerably; they then more impatient of the riders till the huntsman run with their heads close to the ground, and are said and hounds have 'settled to' their fox; and then to hunt a 'cold' scent. Here, however, a little timely he and the entire field join in the chase, and the assistance from the huntsman is of the greatest first, and frequently the most exciting, part of the moment in restoring animation to the pack. He day's proceedings has commenced-the fox has waves his cap, blows his horn, and encourages his 'broke cover,' the hounds have been laid on,' and hounds by well-known expressions, to renewed the field has entered on its impetuous 'first burst.' exertions. When, as frequently happens from A certain etiquette is, however, absolutely necessary various causes, the scent fails entirely-such as the for

away.

FOX-HUNTING.

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 Virgin anus), 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 meadow and pasture grasses of Britain, but does not arrive at full perfection till the third year after it is sown. It bears mowing well and 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. It is 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.

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).

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, to prove valuable. It has somewhat creeping roots, has been introduced into Britain, and appears likely 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 In 1800, he Dumouriez, Moreau, and Massena. 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 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 field of Waterloo, where he was wounded for the fifteenth time. In 1819, he was elected deputy by 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 particularly by his eloquence in opposing the war against Spain in 1823. F. died at Paris, November 28, 1825. Madame Foy published, in 1827, from her husband's papers, a Histoire de la Guerre de name of Thresher. It la Péninsule. In the previous year appeared his attains a length, tail included, of 13 feet. Discours, with a biography. The body is spindleshaped.

seen on the British coasts. The snout is short and conical; the spout-holes are very small; the mouth is 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 remarkable 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
flight at the first splash
of the tail of a fox
shark. From the use
which it makes of its
tail, it has acquired the

It

FOY'ERS, a stream rising in the Monadleadh.
Mountains, in the middle of Inverness-shire.
runs 12 miles north, and falls into the east side 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."

FOXTAIL GRASS (Alopecurus), a genus of 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 a, 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 culm about 1-2 feet high, and a cylindrical A great part is dry at low water, and its west side

Foxtail Grass (Alopecurus

186

pratensis):

465

FRA BARTOLOMEO-FRACTIONS.

alone is navigable. Vessels of 600 tons ascend the west side of the lough, and its chief tributary the Foyle (which comes 16 miles from the south), to Londonderry. On the east shore is a flat strand with a sandy beach, on which, in 1827, was measured a line of 41,640, which was afterwards extended by triangulation to about 53,200 feet, and formed the base line of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.

FRA BARTOLOMEO. See BACCIO DELLA 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

practice of medicine, he was elected physician of the multiply by α

a

FRACTIONS, CONTINUED.

and

Then

B

b.

b+ and =c+

Council of Trent. His Latin verse also exhibits
remarkable elegance. He died in 1553. A bronze
statue was erected in his honour by the citizens of
Padua, while his native city commemorated their
great compatriot by a marble statue. His writings
in prose and verse are numerous. The chief are
Syphilidis, sive Morbi Gallici (Verona, 1530, in 4to;
Paris, 1531 and 1539, in 8vo; London, 1720, in 4to,
and 1746, in 8vo; Italian edition, Verona, 1739,
in 4to, by Tiraboschi; Naples, 1731, by Pietro
Belli); De Vini Temperatura (Venice, 1534, in
4to); Homocentricorum sive de Stellis, De Causis
Criticorum Dierum Libellus (Venice, 1535, in 4to);
De Sympathia et Antipathia Rerum, De Contagi-
onibus et Contagiosis Morbis, et eorum Curatione
(Venice, 1546, in 4to; Lyon, 1550, 1554, in 8vo).
The collective works of F. appeared for the This expression for the value of
first time, Venice, 1555, in 4to.

a1

b1

21
and = n +

m1

m1

FRA'CTED, heraldically, signifies broken asunder. tinued fraction. 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 b parts, and

b

a

that a of them are taken. A fraction is called proper when the numerator is less than the denominator, and improper when the numerator is greater than the denominator. In Algebra, any quantity a 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 arithmetical 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,

a

6+1

с

or

(ab + 1)c + a, bc + 1

B

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 approximat-
ing to the value of A
and are alternately greater and
B'
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.

In illustration of the above general statement, let
6935
us take the numerical fraction which we first
2151'
reduce to a continued fraction in the following