106 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



should have nearly the same good qualities. It is 

 necessary, besides, that he should be attentive and 

 obedient to the huntsman ; and, as his horse will 

 probably have most work to do, the lighter he is, 

 the better ; though, if he be a good horseman, the 

 objection of his weight will be sufficiently over- 

 balanced. He must not be conceited. I had one 

 formerly, who, instead of stopping hounds as he 

 ought, would try to kill a fox by himself. This fault 

 is unpardonable : he should always maintain to the 

 huntsman's halloo, and stop such hounds as divide 

 from it. When stopped, he should get forward with 

 them after the huntsman. 



He must always be contented to act an under part, 

 except when circumstances may require that he should 

 act otherwise i 1 and the moment they cease, he must 

 not fail to resume his former station. You have 

 heard me say, that where there is much riot, I prefer 

 an excellent whipper-in to an excellent huntsman. 

 The opinion, I believe, is new ; I must, therefore, 

 endeavour to explain it. My meaning is this : That 

 I think I should have better sport, and kill more foxes, 

 with a moderate huntsman, and an excellent whipper- 

 in, than with the best of huntsmen without such an 

 assistant. You will say, perhaps, that a good hunts- 

 man will make a good whipper-in ; not such, however, 

 as I mean ; his talent must be born with him. My 

 reasons are, that good hounds (and bad I would not 



1 When the huntsman cannot be up with the hounds, the whipper-in 

 should ; in which case, it is the business of the huntsman to bring on the 

 tail hounds along with him. 



