84 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



made to know the whipper-in : in all probability this 

 method will save any farther trouble. These fellows 

 sometimes flog hounds unmercifully, and some of 

 them seem to take pleasure in their cruelty : I am 

 sure, however, I need not desire you to prevent any 

 excess in correction. 



I have heard, that no fox-hounds will break off to 

 deer, after once a fox is found. I cannot say that the 

 experience I have had of this diversion will in anywise 

 justify the remark : let me advise you, therefore, to 

 seek a surer dependence. Before you hunt your young 

 hounds where hares are in plenty, let them be awed 

 and stopped from hare : before you hunt amongst 

 deer, let them not only see deer, but let them draw 

 covers where deer are ; for you must not be surprised, 

 if, after they are so far steady as not to run them in 

 view, they should challenge on the scent of them. 

 Unless you take this method with your young hounds 

 before you put them into the pack, you will run a risk 

 of corrupting the old ones, and may suffer continual 

 vexation, by hunting with unsteady hounds. I have 

 already told you, that, after my young hounds are 

 taken into the pack, I still take out but very few at a 

 time when I hunt among deer : I also change them 

 when I take out others ; for the steadiness they may 

 have acquired could be but little depended on, were 

 they to meet with any encouragement to be riotous. 



I confess, that I think first impressions of more con- 

 sequence than they are in general thought to be : I 

 not only enter my young hounds to vermin on that 

 account, but I even use them, as early as I can, to the 



