BLOODING THEM TO FOX 77 



distant covers, and more old hounds are added to 

 them : there they continue to hunt, till they are taken 

 into the pack, which is seldom later than the be- 

 ginning of September ; for by that time they will 

 have learned what is required of them, and they 

 seldom give much trouble afterwards. 1 In September 

 I begin to hunt in earnest ; and after the old hounds 

 have killed a few foxes, the young hounds are put 

 into the pack, two or three couple at a time, till 

 all have hunted. They are then divided ; and as 

 I seldom have occasion to take in more than nine or 

 ten couple, one half are taken out one day, the other 

 half the next, till all are steady. 



Two other methods of entering young hounds I 

 have practised occasionally, as the number of hounds 

 have required ; for instance, if that number be con- 

 siderable (fifteen or sixteen couple), I make a large 

 draft of my steadiest hounds, which are kept with 

 the young hounds in a separate kennel, and are 

 hunted with them all the first part of the season. 

 This, when the old hounds begin to hunt, makes two 

 distinct packs, and is always attended with great 

 trouble and inconvenience. Nothing hurts a pack 

 so much, as to enter many young hounds ; since it 

 must be considerably weakened, by being robbed of 

 those which are the most steady ; and yet young 

 hounds can do nothing- without their assistance. 

 Such, therefore, as constantly enter their young 

 hounds in this manner, will, sometimes at least, 



1 Sport, in fox-hunting, cannot be said to begin before October; but, 

 in the two preceding months, a pack is either made or marred. 



