132 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



oddity of his friend Sir Roger, for returning a hound 

 which he said was an excellent bass, because he 

 wanted a counter-tenor ; yet I am of opinion, that if 

 we attended more to the variety of notes frequently 

 to be met with in the tongues of hounds, it might 

 greatly add to the harmony of the pack. I do not 

 know that a complete concert could be attained ; but 

 it would be easy to prevent discordant sounds. 



Keep no hound that runs false : the loss of one 

 hare is more than such a dog is worth. 



It is but reasonable to give your hounds a hare 

 sometimes : I always give mine the last they killed, if 

 I thought they deserved her. 



It is too much the custom, first to ride over a dog, 

 and then cry, 'ware horse ! Take care not to ride 

 over your hounds : I have known many a good dog 

 spoiled by it. In open ground, caution them first; 

 you may afterwards ride over them, if you please ; 

 but, in roads and paths, they frequently cannot get 

 out of your way : it surely, then, is your business, 

 either to stop your horse, or break a way for them ; 

 and the not doing it, give me leave to say, is not less 

 absurd than cruel ; nor can that man be called a good 

 sportsman, who thus wantonly destroys his own 

 sport. Indeed, good sportsmen seldom ride on the 

 line of the tail hounds. 



An acquaintance of mine, when he hears any of 

 his servants say, 'ware horse! halloos out, "'ware 

 horse ! 'ware dog ! and be hang'd to you ! " 



You ask, How my warren-hares are caught ? It 

 shall be the subject of my next Letter. 



