WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 73 



early part of the present century, should still be our chief text- 

 book in all matters relating to hounds, in kennel or chase ; but 

 it is very remarkable that Du Fouilloux's instructions, written as 

 they were in the reign of Henry II. of France, that is, about 

 1550 A.D., more than three hundred years ago, should continue to 

 be the French gentleman's chief guide in the science of venery 

 down to the present day. 



The Comte Charles de St. Prix, a thorough houndsman from 

 his earliest years, looked upon Jacques du Fouilloux as a second 

 St. Hubert, and had studied his precepts with so much care and 

 respect, that he was ever ready to quote from " La Venerie," in 

 support of all questions pertaining to hounds or beasts of chase. 

 After our grand day at Trefranc the conversation on our home- 

 ward route turned to the subject of entering hounds at wolf; and, 

 although he detailed to me minutely the method recommended by 

 Du Fouilloux, I could see a twinkle in his eye when I inquired if 

 that was really the practice he adopted in the management of his 

 young hounds, as I said it appeared to me a process of unneces- 

 sary trouble. 



" Quite true," he replied ; " we now find that waiting for the 

 wolf to come to us, lying in ambush, is a tedious affair, and 

 requires more patience than my piqueurs possess. Besides, 

 shooting the brute before we hunt him is so antagonistic to the 

 principle of fair play that I have ventured to differ from that 

 great authority on this important point." 



The passage is altogether so quaint and so primitive in its 

 injunctions that I am quite sure a free translation of it will 

 amuse, if not astonish, the modern houndsman of this country. 

 It runs thus : 



" Very necessary is it that princes and grand seigneurs should 

 have hounds bred from a race that love to hunt the wolf, and 

 that they should be well-fed together, so that they may become 

 big, strong, and courageous. And if, peradventure, there should 



