TIME OF FEEDING 37 



general a practice, in which there may be some 

 utility ; I shall only observe, that it should be used 

 with discretion ; lest the whip should fall heavily, 

 in the kennel, on such as never deserve it in the field. 



My hounds are generally fed about eleven o'clock j 1 

 and, when I am present myself, I take the same 

 opportunity to make my draft for the next day's 

 hunting. I seldom, when I can help it, leave this 

 to my huntsman ; though it is necessary that he 

 should be present when the draft is made, that he 

 may know what hounds he has out. 



It is a bad custom to use hounds to the boiling- 

 house : it is apt to make them nice, and may prevent 

 them from ever eating the kennel meat. What they 

 have should always be given them in the feeding- 

 yard ; and for the same reason, though it be flesh, 

 it should have some meal mixed with it. 



it is no wonder that he should mistake a meaning, perhaps rather unfairly 

 stated by the auther, in favour of that humanity which he is supposed 

 so much to want. Hounds are called in to feed, one by one, and such 

 only are corrected as come uncalled for : nor is correction unjust, so long 

 as it shall fall on the disobedient only. Obedience is an useful lesson, 

 and though it cannot be practised too often, it should be taught them at 

 a more idle time. 



1 Having found it necessary to alter my method of feeding hounds, 

 it may not be improper to take notice of it here. They are now fed 

 at eight o'clock, instead of eleven. Their first feed is of barley and 

 oatmeal mixed, an equal quantity of each. Flesh is afterwards mixed 

 up with the remainder, for such hounds as are poor, who are then drafted 

 off into another kennel, and let in to feed altogether. When the flesh 

 is all eaten, the pack are again let in, and are by this means cheated 

 into a second appetite. At three o'clock, those that are to hunt the next 

 day are drafted into the hunting-kennel; they are then let into the 

 feeding-yard, where a small quantity of oatmeal (about three buckets) is 

 prepared for them, mixed up thick. Such as are tender, or bad feeders, 

 have a handful of boiled flesh given to them afterwards. When they 

 are not to hunt the next day, they are fed once only, at eleven o'clock. 



