CROPPING, BRANDING, AND HOUNDING. 205 



hounds are branded with the initials of the master or of the hunt, 

 a hot iron shaped like the letter itself being used. Both cropping 

 and rounding require practice to perform them well, a large sharp 

 pair of scissors being used, and care bemg necessary to hold the 

 two layers of skin in the ear in their natural position, to prevent 

 the one rolling on the other, and thus leaving one larger than tho 

 other Foxhounds have so much work in covert that rounding is 

 Imperatively called for to prevent the ears from being torn, and 

 it always has been adopted as a universal practice, different hunts- 

 men varying in the quantity removed. Some people after cutting 

 one ear lay the piece removed on the other, and so mark exactly 

 the amount which is to be removed from it ; but this is a clumsy 

 expedient, and, if the eye is not good enough to direct the hand 

 without this measurement, the operation will seldom be effected to 

 the satisfaction of the owner of the dog. It is usual to round fox- 

 hound puppies after they come in from their wallis ; but it would 

 be far better to perform the operation before their return, as it 

 only makes them more sulky and unhappy than they otherwise 

 would be, and is a poor introduction to their new masters. The 

 men could easily go around to the different walks during the sum- 

 mer, and it would uisure a supervision which is often required. 



