72 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



will not be amiss to send them out by themselves, 

 when the men go out to exercise their horses. If you 

 have hares in plenty, let some be found sitting, and 

 turned out before them ; and you will soon find the 

 most riotous will not run after them. If you intend 

 them to be made steady from deer, they should often 

 see deer, and they will not regard them ; and if, after 

 a probation of this kind, you turn out a cub before 

 them, with some old hounds to lead them on, you 

 may assure yourself they will not be unsteady long ; 

 for, as Somerville rightly observes, 



Easy the lesson of the youthful train, 



When instinct prompts, and when example guides. 



Flogging hounds in the kennel (the frequent practice 

 of most huntsmen) I hold in abhorrence : it is unrea- 

 sonable, unjust, and cruel ; and, carried to the excess 

 we sometimes see it, is a disgrace to humanity. 

 Hounds that are old offenders, that are very riotous, 

 and at the same time very cunning, it may be difficult 

 to catch; such hounds may be excepted; they deserve 

 punishment wherever taken, and you should not fail 

 to give it them when you can. This, you will allow, 

 is a particular case, and necessity may excuse it ; but 

 let not the peace and quiet of your kennel be often 

 thus disturbed. When your hounds offend, punish 

 them ; when caught in the fact, then let them suffer ; 

 and, if you be severe, at least be just. 



When your young hounds stoop to a scent, are 

 become handy, know a rate, and stop easily, you may 

 then begin to put them into the pack, a few only at a 



