50 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



to the little care that is taken of them there. I am 

 in doubt whether it might not be better to breed 

 them up yourself, and have a kennel on purpose. 1 

 You have a large orchard paled in, which would suit 

 them exactly ; and what else is wanted might easily 

 be obtained. There is, however, an objection that 

 perhaps may strike you : if the distemper once get 

 amongst them, they must all have it ; yet, notwith- 

 standing that, as they will be constantly well fed, 

 and will lie warm, I am confident it would be the 

 saving of many lives. If you should adopt this 

 method, you must remember to use them early to 

 go in couples ; and, when they become of a proper 

 age, they must be walked out often ; for, should 

 they remain confined, they would neither have the 

 shape, health, or understanding, which they ought 

 to have. When I kept harriers, I bred up some 

 of the puppies at a distant kennel ; but, having no 

 servants there to exercise them properly, I found 

 them much inferior to such of their brethren as had 

 the luck to survive the many difficulties and dangers 

 which they had undergone at their walks : these were 

 afterwards equal to any thing, and afraid of nothing ; 

 while those that had been nursed with so much care, 

 were weakly and timid, and had every disadvantage 

 attending private education. 



[ J This has been proved impossible. Hounds to be reared success- 

 fully must go out to walk ; the risks of accidents and distemper will 

 have to be chanced. The best plan is to give a handsome luncheon to 

 the puppy walkers and prizes for the best hounds ; this will encourage 

 the farmers to look after their charges and make them take an interest 

 in the pack. The hounds that survive the dangers of walks always appear 

 to have more sense than those that are kept at home.] 



