OF SPAYING BITCHES 55 



dogs be thin over the back, or any more quarrelsome 

 than the rest, it will be of use to cut them : I also spay 

 such bitches as I think I shall not want to breed from; 

 they are more useful, are stouter, and are always in 

 better order; besides, it is absolutely necessary, if you 

 hunt late in the spring, or your pack will be very short 

 for want of it. It may be right to tell you, that the 

 latter operation does not always succeed ; it will be 

 necessary, therefore, to employ a skilful person, and 

 one on whom you can depend ; for, if it be ill done, 

 though they cannot have puppies, they will go to heat 

 notwithstanding, of which I have known many in- 

 stances ; and that, I apprehend, would not answer 

 your purpose, at any rate. They should be kept low 

 for several days before the operation is performed, and 

 must be fed on thin meat for some time after. 



You ask me, what number of young hounds you 

 should breed, to keep up your stock? It is a question, 

 I believe, that no man can answer. It depends alto- 

 gether on contigencies. The deficiencies of one year 

 must be supplied the next. I should apprehend, from 

 thirty to thirty-five couple of old hounds, and from 

 eight to twelve couple of young ones, would, one year 

 with another, best suit an establishment which you do 

 not intend should much exceed forty couple. This 



tuck up. 1 The tailing of them is usually done before they are put out ; 

 it might be better, perhaps, to leave it till they are taken in. Dogs must 

 not be rounded at the time they have the distemper upon them ; the loss 

 of blood would weaken them too much. 



[* The operation of rounding the ears is not now practised in some 

 kennels, but if skilfully done it does not cause much pain, and saves 

 them being torn in thick coverts.] 



