58 FOX-HUNTING 



striker. There are many things, no doubt, to try 

 the temper of a whipper-in, and he may get into 

 the habit when annoyed of taking it out of hounds 

 with his whip. This is a habit which he must 

 not allow himself to indulge, and if it becomes 

 confirmed, he had better try some other walk 

 in life. Hounds appreciate justice in discipline 

 quite as much as children, and will not readily 

 forget an unjust blow. If a hound commits an 

 offence of any kind, he should be punished at 

 once or not at all. In covert it is not always easy 

 to reach the offender, but an opportunity is sure 

 to occur at some future time when he will again 

 transgress, and when he is not sheltered by thick 

 undergrowth. Kennel discipline is the first lesson 

 in a hound's education, and when once they have 

 learned obedience at home, they will give little 

 trouble in the field, but this should be accom- 

 plished more by patience and kindness than by 

 the whip. Whips for kennel use should be as 

 light as possible. Calling in each member of the 

 pack by name to the feeding-trough is an excellent 

 means of instilling obedience, and is the usual 

 custom in nearly every kennel, but it should be 

 done without any unnecessary roughness. Unless 



