ENTERING HOUNDS TO HARE 79 



had been previously occupied as a club and to which 

 many of the most fashionable men of the day belonged. 

 On removing the establishment to that place they were 

 designated the Quorn hounds. 



One of the peculiarities of Mr. Meynell's system was 

 that of entering his young hounds at hare, a custom 

 exploded in all kennels of the present day. I have 

 reason to believe his motive for doing so was because 

 many contemporary packs hunted both hare and fox, 

 a custom which experience proves to be incompatible 

 with the perfection of steadiness. Another motive was 

 that of teaching hounds to hunt, or, in kennel 

 language, 'to enter.' Although inconvenient, it was, 

 perhaps, less objectionable at that time than it would 

 be now, because hares were by no means so numerous! ; 

 but, under any circumstances, it cannot be surprising 

 that hounds should have a predilection for the pursuit 

 of an animal they had been first encouraged to hunt, 

 and that great severity must be exercised before the 

 poor hounds could be made steady to the proper scent. 

 If hares abound in the neighbourhood where young 

 hounds are reared, they will very probably amuse 

 themselves with a little independent hunting on their 

 own account; to which there is no objection, probably 

 the reverse : it teaches them to hunt, the purpose for 

 which they are bred and kept; therefore, it is highly 

 desirable they should be proficient in the accomplish- 

 ment. It is a very different affair when they take to it 

 from the natural impulse of instinct, and, being 

 encouraged to hunt a scent one day are chastised for 

 doing so the next. As young hounds are now treated, 

 by taking them to exercise among hares and checking 

 them when they show a disposition to chase the timids, 

 they are rendered steady without punishment. When 

 cub-hunting commences those hounds are generally 

 found to enter more readily which have indulged in a 

 little self-hunting after hares when at their walks. 



Mr. Meynell was an advocate for taking out an 

 immense number of hounds, and would have as many 



