FEEDING, MANAGEMENT, TRAINING, ETC. 649 



Staghounds, foxhounds, harriers, and beagles, are 

 generally fed on oatmeal ; and the older it is the 

 better, so that it is not fusty. Store sufficient for 

 twelve or eighteen months' consumption ought, there- 

 fore, always to be kept by those who have a pack. 

 The meal should be well dried and broken into grits, 

 but not too fine. It is best kept in bins in a granary, 

 well trodden down. Some persons are in the habit 

 of using barleymeal, but it is not nearly so nutritious 

 as the former. Others are of opinion that oatmeal 

 and barleymeal, in equal proportions, form a pre- 

 ferable food. But nothing is better than oatmeal- 

 porridge, with the addition of a little milk, and occa- 

 sionally the kitchen-offal, such as remnants of butchers' 

 meat, broth, and soups, the raspings and refuse of 

 bakers' shops, or hard, coarse, sea-biscuit, well soaked 

 and boiled with bullocks' liver or horse-flesh. Well- 

 boiled greens are an excellent addition to the food 

 of all dogs, and may be given twice a week ; but 

 this ought to be discontinued during the shooting 

 season with pointers, setters, cockers, and greyhounds ; 

 and also during the hunting-season with foxhounds, 

 harriers, and beagles, as they are apt to render the 

 bowels too open for hard work. The flesh should be 

 first thoroughly boiled, and then taken out before the 

 oatmeal is added to the broth. 



Dogs which are regularly worked are better for 

 having two meals a day ; the principal one, of course, 

 should be given in the evening. Nothing is better 

 than good, wholesome horse-flesh (avoiding by all 

 means such as have died full of drugs ; but let it be 

 those which have been killed, and in a healthy state), 

 boiled, and the liquor mixed well with the oatmeal- 

 porridge, the quantity of each about equal. If horse- 

 flesh is not to be had, cracklings or greaves are a 



