188 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



halloo, but is it not used too indiscriminately ? it is for- 

 ever in the mouth of a whipper-in. If your hounds be 

 never used to that halloo till after a fox be found, you 

 will see them fly to it. At other times, other halloos 

 will answer the purpose of getting them on as well. 

 Halloo forward being used as soon as the game is on 

 foot, it seems as if another halloo were necessary, to 

 denote the breaking cover. Away ! Away ! might 

 answer that purpose. Gentlemen who are kind enough 

 to stop back to assist hounds, should have notice given 

 them when the hounds leave the cover. 



Most huntsmen, I believe, are jealous of the whip- 

 per-in : they frequently look on him as a successor, and 

 therefore do not very readily admit him into the 

 kennel ; yet, in my opinion, it is necessary that he 

 should go thither ; for he ought to be well acquainted 

 with the hounds, who should know and follow him, as 

 well as the huntsman. 



To recapitulate what I have already said. If your 

 whipper-in be bold and active ; be a good and careful 

 horseman ; have a good ear, and a clear voice ; if, as I 

 said, he be a very Mtmgo, having, at the same time, 

 judgment to distinguish where he can be of most use ; 

 if, joined to these, he be above the foolish conceit of 

 killing a fox without the huntsman ; but, on the con- 

 trary, be disposed to assist him all he can — he then is 

 a perfect whipper-in. 



I am sorry to hear that your hounds are so 

 unsteady. It is scarcely possible to have sport with 

 unsteady hounds : they are half tired before the fox is 

 found, and are not to be depended upon afterwards. 



