o MMRO&S NORTHERN TOUR. 



hounds, in the highest possible condition, joined with the re- 

 miniscence of what I had already seen with them, as well as the 

 anticipation of at least a week's diversion in future, was an object 

 very likely to be so. But my reception by the pack was by no 

 means a gratifying one. Whether or not, like Homer's dogs,* 

 their power of instinct enabled them to determine the nature of 

 the spirit that was come amongst them, I am unable to say ; but 

 this much I know, the bristles of several stood erect, as they 

 surrounded me on the road ; and but for Williamson's " Have a 

 care, Lucy," and a smack of his whip, a fine lemon-pied bitch 

 of that name would certainly have had a taste of my haunch, if 

 nothing more. I considered this rather a rare occurrence ; for 

 although fox-hounds should not be approached by strangers, 

 without caution, in their kennel, they are, generally speaking, the 

 most inoffensive animals of their entire species when out of it 

 that is to say, to man. 



On our arrival at the kennel, the whole pack were twice walked 

 through the wash-pool in the yard, and after allowing a certain 

 time for them to lick themselves dry, they were drawn by 

 Williamson to the troughs and fed and having said by whom 

 fed, I need not add in a very workmanlike manner. This wash- 

 pool is now becoming pretty general in kennels, and an excellent 

 expedient I take it to be. By preventing hounds carrying wet 

 dirt and dry mud with them into their beds, it conduces greatly 

 to cleanliness, and is considered a preservative from what is 

 called kennel-lameness. At all events, there was not in this ken- 

 nel, on the day on which I visited it, one single instance of that 

 destructive disease. The benefit to the feet is self-evident, as the 

 tongue is the dog's doctor for all slight excoriations, to which 

 their feet are so liable, in their work. 



A walk through the St. Boswell's stables was to me a high treat, 

 particularly so as I was given to understand that in them the 

 system I have recommended for treating hunters in the summer 

 is very generally followed.t Neither is the system of clipping 

 which I have always condemned, and which I shall never cease 

 to condemn,jas a mere cheat to the eye, as a violent outrage! 



* Odyssey Lib. xv. 



f A very sporting yeoman in the neighbourhood, by the name of 

 Brown, had, a short time before my visit to St. Boswell's, made a pre- 

 sent to Hugh Burn, the first whipper-in, of the book called " Nimrod on 

 the Condition of Hunters." 



J We do not go the length of our friend Nimrod in condemnation of 

 clipping. We do not see that it is any greater outrage on nature than 

 the general system of equine domestication. However, we readily give 

 insertion to his sentiments, with this salvo for ourselves. Editor 

 N, S. M. 



