236 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



season, is of use to a huntsman : it shows the real 

 goodness and stoutness of his hounds. 



When long days happen to hounds that are low in 

 flesh, nothing will get them up again so effectually as 

 rest : it is for this reason, hounds, that are kept con- 

 stantly hunted, ought always to be, as sportsmen call 

 it, above their work. If your hounds, either from acci- 

 dent or inattention, should ever be in the low condition 

 here alluded to, be not impatient to get them out of 

 it : should you feed them high with flesh, the mange, 

 most probably, would be the immediate consequence 

 of it: it is rest, and wholesome meat, that will recover 

 them best. It will surprise you to see how soon a dog 

 becomes either fat or lean : a little patience, therefore, 

 and some attention, will always enable you to get your 

 hounds into proper condition ; and I am certain that 

 you can receive no pleasure in hunting with them, if 

 they be not. 



I forgot, in my Letter upon the feeding of hounds, 

 to observe, that such hounds as have the mange 

 actually upon them, or only a tendency towards it, 

 should be fed separately from the rest ; they should 

 have no flesh ; their meat should be mixed up rather 

 thin than thick ; and they should have vegetables in 

 great plenty. 1 I must also add, that if my hounds 

 return from hunting earlier than they were expected, 

 I now order them to be shut up in the lodging-room 

 till their meat be made ready for them. Hounds never 

 rest contented till they have been fed ; nor will they 



1 Sulphur made into a ball with butter, or hog's-lard, and given two or 

 three mornings following, may also be necessary. 



