32 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



a stable of horses belong to the groom ; while the 

 master had little more power in the direction of either, 

 than a perfect stranger. This you will not allow. 

 I know that you choose to keep the supreme 

 command in your own hands ; and, though you 

 permit your servants to remonstrate, you do not 

 suffer them to disobey. He who allows a huntsman 

 to manage his hounds without control, literally keeps 

 them for the huntsman's amusement. You desire to 

 know what is required of a feeder : I will tell you 

 as well as I can. 



As our sport depends entirely on that exquisite 

 sense of smelling so peculiar to the hound, care must 

 be taken to preserve it ; and cleanliness is the surest 

 means. The keeping your kennel sweet and clean, can- 

 not therefore be too much recommended to the feeder ; 

 nor should you on any account, admit the least devia- 

 tion from it. If he sees you exact, he will be so him- 

 self. This is a very essential part of his business. The 

 boiling for the hounds, mixing of the meat, and getting 

 it ready for them at proper hours, your huntsman will 

 of course take care of; nor is it ever likely to be for- 

 gotten. I must caution you not to let your dogs eat 

 their meat too hot ; I have known it attended with 

 bad consequences ; you should also order it to be 

 mixed up as thick as possible. When the feeder has 

 cleaned his kennel in the morning, and prepared his 

 meat, it is usual for him, on hunting days (in an estab- 

 lishment like yours), to exercise the horses of the 

 huntsman and whipper-in ; and, in many stables, it is 

 also the feeder who looks after the huntsman's horse, 



