30 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



names as are expressive of speed, strength, courage, or other natural qualities 

 in a hound, I think most applicable to them. Damons and Delias I have 

 left out ; the bold Thunder, and the brisk Lightning, if you please, may 

 supply their places ; unless you prefer the method of the gentleman I told 

 you of, who intends naming his hounds from the p ge ; and, I suppose, he at 

 the same time will not be unmindful of the p y c rs. 1 



If you mark the whelps in the side (which is called branding them) when 

 they are first put out (or perhaps it may be better done after they have been 

 out some time), it may prevent their being stolen. 



When young hounds are first taken in, they should be kept separate from 

 the pack ; and, as it will happen at a time of the year when there is little or 

 no hunting, you may easily give them up one of the kennels and grass-court 

 adjoining. Their play ends frequently in a battle ; it therefore is less 

 dangerous, where all are equally matched. What Somerville says on this 

 subject is exceedingly beautiful. 



But here, with watchful and observant eye, 



Attend their frolicks, which too often end 



In bloody broils and death. High o'er thy head 



Wave thy resounding whip, and with a voice 



Fierce-menacing o'er-rule the stern debate, 



And quench their kindling rage ; for oft, in sport 



Begun, combat ensues ; growling they snarl, 



Then on their haunches rear'd, rampant they seize 



Each other's throats ; with teeth and claws, in gore 



Besmear'd, they wound, they tear, till on the ground, 



Panting, half dead the conquer'd champion lies : 



Then sudden all the base ignoble crowd 



Loud-clam'ring seize the helpless worried wretch, 



And, thirsting for his blood, drag diff'rent ways 



His mangled carcass on th' ensanguin'd plain. 



O, breasts of pity void ! t' oppress the weak, 



To point your vengeance at the friendless head, 



And with one mutual cry insult the fall'n ! 



Emblem too just of man's degen'rate race. 



If you find that they take a dislike to any particular hound, the safest way 

 will be to remove him, or it is probable they will kill him at last. When a 

 feeder hears the hounds quarrel in the kennel, he halloos to them to stop 

 them. He then goes in among them, and flogs every hound he can come 

 near. How much more reasonable, as well as more efficacious, would it be, 

 were he to see which were the combatants, before he speaks to them ? 

 Punishment would then fall, as it ought, on the guilty only. In all packs 

 there are some hounds more quarrelsome than the rest ; and it is to them we 

 owe all the mischief that is done. If you find that chastisement cannot quiet 

 them, it may be prudent to break their holders ; for since they are not neces- 

 sary to them for the meat they have to eat, they are not likely to serve them 

 in any good purpose. 



* l Peerage and Privy Councillors. See Introduction. 



