102 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



they can say they have killed their fox when they 

 go home, they had better have had a little more 

 chat together. 



There is a prejudice against cutting dog hounds 

 which are slight and weedy, but it improves their 

 appearance as much as it does the bitches ; and it 

 also improves their nose, and their power for work, 

 and in every other respect, as in the other case. 

 It is a good plan if a dog hound is quarrelsome 

 in the kennel, if it is not desirable to preserve 

 the sort, — ^which should be well considered first, 

 or the improvement in the hound afterwards may 

 be the cause for constant regret. But there are 

 always stallion hounds to be found equally good. 



There are certain faults which should never be 

 overlooked, let the hound be ever so good in 

 every other way. A mute hound is unpardonable ; 

 if he should be in every other respect perfect, so 

 much the greater reason for drafting him. He 

 finds your fox in cover, and goes on with him ; the 

 rest of the pack get together on this line, presently 

 come to a check, then get away and another 

 check. You see a man at work, and ask, " Have 

 you seen a fox ? " " No ; but I seed a whitish 

 hound go along as fast as he could go just now." 

 This is our mute friend who goes away without 

 saying a word ; the consequence is that his having 

 passed along the line of scent, although the leading 



