THE DUTIES OF THE FEEDER 33 



when he comes in from hunting ; whilst the huntsman 

 feeds the hounds. When the hounds are not out, the 

 huntsman and whipper-in, of course, will exercise their 

 own horses ; and, that day, the feeder has little else to 

 mind but the cleaning of his kennel. Every possible 

 contrivance has been attended to in the plan that I 

 sent you, to make that part of his work easy ; all the 

 courts, except the grass-court, being bricked and sloped 

 on purpose. There is also plenty of water, without 

 any trouble of fetching it ; and a thorough air through- 

 out the kennels, to assist in drying them again. 

 Should you choose to increase your number of 

 servants in the stable, the business of the feeder may 

 be confined entirely to the kennel. There should be 

 always two to feed the hounds properly ; the feeder 

 and the huntsman. 



Somerville strongly recommends cleanliness in the 

 following lines : 



O'er all let cleanliness preside ; no scraps 

 Bestrew the pavement, and no half-pick'd bones, 

 To kindle fierce debate, or to disgust 

 That nicer sense, on which the sportsman's hope, 

 And all his future triumphs, must depend. 

 Soon as the growling pack with eager joy 

 Have lapp'd their smoking viands, morn or eve, 

 From the full cistern lead the ductile streams, 

 To wash thy court well pav'd ; nor spare thy pains, 

 For much to health will cleanliness avail. 

 Seek'st thou for hounds to climb the rocky steep, 

 And brush th' entangled covert, whose nice scent 

 O'er greasy fallows, and frequented roads, 

 Can pick the dubious way ? — banish far off 

 Each noisome stench ; let no offensive smell 

 Invade thy wide inclosure, but admit 

 The nitrous air and purifying breeze. 



D 



