THE INSTRUCTION OF HOUNDS 75 



considers the management of hounds as a regular 

 system of education, from the time when they are 

 first taken into the kennel : I perfectly agree with 

 this gentleman ; and am well convinced, that if you 

 expect sagacity in your hound when he is old, you 

 must be mindful what instruction he receives from 

 you in his youth ; for as he is, of all animals, the 

 most docile, he is also most liable to bad habits. 

 A diversity of character, constitution, and disposition, 

 are to be observed Amongst them ; which, to be made 

 the most of, must be carefully attended to, and differ- 

 ently treated. I do not pretend to have succeeded 

 in it myself; yet you will perceive, perhaps, that I 

 have given it some attention. 



I begin to hunt with my young hounds in August. 

 The employment of my huntsman the preceding 

 months is to keep his old hounds healthy and quiet, 

 by giving them proper exercise ; and to get his 

 young hounds forward. 1 They are called over often 

 in the kennel : it uses them to their names, to the 

 huntsman, and to the whipper-in. They are walked 

 out often among sheep, hares, and deer : it uses them 

 to a rate. Sometimes he turns down a cat before 

 them, which they hunt up to, and kill ; and, when the 

 time of hunting approaches, he turns out badgers, or 

 young foxes, taking out some of the steadiest of 

 his old hounds to lead them on : this teaches them to 



1 Nothing will answer this purpose so well as taking them out often. 

 Let your huntsman lounge about with them : nothing will make them so 

 handy. Let him get off his horse frequently, and encourage them to 

 come to him : nothing will familiarise them so much : too great restraint 

 will oftentimes incline hounds to be riotous. 



