98 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



selecting a dog hound of three or four seasons, 

 which had not shown himself a good drawer, good 

 in the chase, or a good cold-hunter. This dog was 

 put to an extraordinary good bitch, which had most 

 of the qualities required ; and the produce was in 

 every instance superior. It is fair to add, that the 

 last-mentioned bitches were from the best blood, 

 which will generally prove to be the case, if they 

 are remarkable, although probably a generation or 

 two back. 



It is a remarkable fact in breeding, and worthy 

 of notice, that if a young hound has any peculiarity 

 which the sire had, such as standing in a particular 

 way in the kennel, or in following closely the 

 huntsman's horse, or any other trick of the sire, 

 he will also generally inherit with it all his good 

 qualities, and may be bred from without fear the 

 first year ; and if this (which is the only way of 

 finding out a cross which nicks early) is a lucky 

 one, it w^ill be known soon enough to be repeated 

 several times. But it must not be till after the 

 produce with that bitch has been tried ; consequently 

 two years after it will be known, and the same 

 bitch can be put to him again, but not till then. 



The writer was once asked the following question 

 in the company of four masters of hounds. We 

 four agree in thinking that bitches are quicker in 

 cover than dogs ; what say you ? Yes ; not because 



