THE HOUND 63 



they are very seldom of any use beyond that 

 period. The strength of a pack lies in its new 

 members, and unless a good entry is introduced 

 every year, it will soon commence to go down- 

 hill. I do not mean to say that a hound in its 

 first season is as good as a third or fourth season 

 hunter, but the young one is getting better every 

 day, whilst the old one will soon have passed its 

 prime. Most huntsmen prefer that for the first 

 season a hound should not be too prominent or 

 try to take a leading part, as the precocious ones 

 very frequently wear themselves out before their 

 muscles are properly developed. 



The best site for building kennels is either on 

 the slope or the top of a hill, and if possible 

 they should be on a clay soil. A tree or two 

 in the grass-yard are an advantage for purposes 

 of shade, but the main building must be open 

 to the sun, and for this reason a south-east aspect 

 is to be preferred. In summer-time, in the heat 

 of the day, the hounds should not be allowed 

 to lie out in the yards, but should be shut in 

 the lodging-rooms, which when properly ventilated 

 will always be cool. If, however, the pack are 

 walked out often, as I have already suggested. 



