FOX-HOUNDS 105 



number of bitches than usual, than to weaken 

 the pack by taking out the brood bitches, as no 

 doubt the earher the whelps come the better. 

 The bitches had better not hunt for a week after 

 taking the dog, nor be hunted longer than a month 

 after that time, making five weeks after. The 

 most favourite blood should be sent to the best 

 walks, butchers, etc., as, according to an old 

 saying, " All beauty goes in at the mouth." 



As before stated, the two great points to attend 

 to in breeding are stoutness and nose ; therefore it 

 is best only to breed those that are stout as wire 

 and that never get slack, and those which can 

 hunt a cold scent. The two qualities often go 

 together ; for it is the stoutness which makes a 

 hound willing to try to hunt and make use of his 

 nose, which a slack hound would not try to do. 

 But much of this depends on the huntsman. 

 If he is persevering, his pack will soon become 

 hunters ; but they must be horn with good noses, 

 and none ought to be allowed to be bred from 

 which have not. 



Every huntsman, at times, must feel disposed 

 to say that he will not breed from any hound that 

 will not always draw well ; and, doubtless, he 

 would adopt a most sensible plan, for almost all 

 hounds that draw well are stout, and have good 

 noses to feel a drag, as they must do in drawing ; 



