12 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



A stove, I believe, is made use of in some kennels ; but, where the 

 feeder is a good one, a mop, properly used, will render it unnecessary. I 

 have a little hay-rick in the grass-yard, which I think is of use, to keep the 

 hounds clean, and fine in their coats : you will find them frequently rub- 

 bing themselves against it : the shade of it also is useful to them in summer. 

 If ticks at any time be troublesome in your kennel, let the walls of it be 

 well washed : if that should not destroy them, the walls must then be 

 whitewashed. 



In the summer, when you do not hunt, one kennel will be sufficient : 

 the other may then be set apart for the young hounds, who should also 

 have the grass-court adjoining to it. It is best, at that time of the year, 

 to keep them separate ; and it prevents many accidents which otherwise 

 might happen ; nor should they be put together till the hunting season 

 begins. 1 If your hounds be very quarrelsome, the feeder may sleep in a 

 cot in the kennel adjoining ; and, if they be well chastised at the first quarrel, 

 his voice will be sufficient to settle all their differences afterwards. 1 Close 

 to the door of the kennel, let there be always a quantity of little switches ; 

 which three narrow boards, nailed to one of the posts, will easily contain. 3 



My kennel is close to the road-side, but it was unavoidable. This 

 is the reason why my front pale is close, and only the side ones open : it 

 is a great fault : avoid it if you can, and your hounds will be the quieter. 



Upon looking over my Letter, I find that I 'begin by recommending* 

 with Mr. Somerville, a high situation for the kennel, and afterwards talk 

 of a brook running through the middle of it : I am afraid that you will 

 not be able to unite these two advantages ; in which case, without doubt, 

 water should be preferred. The mount that I have mentioned will answer 

 all the purposes of an eminence : besides, there should be moveable stages 

 on wheels, for the hounds to lie upon ; at any rate, however, let your soil 

 be a dry one. 



You will, perhaps, think my lodging-rooms higher than is necessary. 

 I know that they are considerably higher than is usual ; the intention 

 of which is, to give more air to the hounds ; and I have not the least doubt 

 that they are the better for it. I will no longer persecute you with this 



3 The dogs and the bitches may also be kept separate from each other during the summer 

 months, where there are conveniences for it. 



2 In a kennel in Oxfordshire, the feeder pulls a bell, which the hounds understand the 

 meaning of : it silences them immediately, and saves him the trouble of getting out of his 

 bed *[This seems to foretell Will Todd's method of keeping order among Sir Richard Puleston's 

 " curly sterns." When they fought he rang a bell and then went in with his whip. In time 

 the clang of the bell alone sufficed to restore peace. See Silk and Scarlet, pp. 303-4, edition 

 of 1895.] 



3 When hounds are perfectly obedient, whips are no longer necessary ; switches, in my 

 opinion, are preferable. The whips I use are coach-whips, three feet long, the thong half 

 the length of the crop : they are more handy than horse- whips, correct the hounds as well 

 and hurt them less. 



