Much depends on the first finding a fox, who, if well found, may be said to be half killed. The huntsman should draw quietly, and up the wind; this is material; the fox, by drawing up the wind, does not hear the approach of the hounds, who by this means are also within hearing; besides, should the fox turn down the wind, as most probably he will, it lets the hounds all in. If covers are small, and from which a fox cannot break unseen, noise can then do no hurt, but late in the season foxes are wild, particularly in covers that are often hunted; and should there be any noise, they will slink their kennels and get too much advantage; the whipper-in, where this is suspected to happen, should get the opposite side of the cover, before the hounds are thrown into it. * * * * * When foxes are numerous, there is no occasion for an early hour, and when they are weak, by hunting late, they give better chases; when foxes are strong, hounds ought then to have the advantage which hunting early affords them. When hounds go out late, they should immediately proceed where it is likely to find, which, for the most part, is that cover where hounds have been least in; if a fox is not soon found, a long and tiresome day is generally the consequence; when the cover is thick, particularly if it be furzy, it should be drawn slowly; a fox at a late hour will keep his kennel until hounds come close upon him.—_Beckford._—_Daniel._ COVERT, _s._ A shelter, a defence. Coverts of the Tail, (_Uropygium_, LINN.), in Ornithology, are feathers which cover the tail on the upper side, at the base. COVEY, _s._ A hatch, an old bird with her young ones; a number of birds together. COUGH, _s._ A convulsion of the lungs. COUGH, _v._ To have the lungs convulsed; to make a noise in endeavouring to evacuate the peccant matter from the lungs.