40 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



consistency, give them any encouragement. Hare-hunting has one advan- 

 tage : hounds are chiefly in open ground, where you can easily command 

 them ; but, notwithstanding that, if foxes be in tolerable plenty, keep 

 them to their own game, and forget not the advice of the old sportsman. 



Frequent hallooing is of use with young hounds : it keeps them forward, 

 prevents their being lost, and hinders them from hunting after the rest. 

 The oftener, therefore, a fox is seen and hallooed, the better : it serves 

 to let them in, makes them eager, makes them exert themselves, and teaches 

 them to be handy. I must tell you, at the same time I say this, that I 

 by no means approve of much hallooing to old hounds ; and though I 

 frequently am guilty of it myself, it is owing to my spirits, which lead me 

 into an error which my judgment condemns. It is true, there is a time 

 when hallooing is of use, a time when it does hurt, and a time when it is 

 perfectly indifferent ; but it is long practice, and great attention to hunting, 

 that must teach you the application. 



Hounds, at their first entering, cannot be encouraged too much. When 

 they are become handy, love a scent, and begin to know what is right, it 

 will be soon enough to chastise them for doing wrong ; in which case, one 

 severe beating will save a deal of trouble. You should recommend to your 

 whipper-in, when he flogs a hound, to make use of his voice as well as his 

 whip ; and let him remember, that the smack of the whip is often of as 

 much use as the lash, to one that has felt it. If any be very unsteady, it 

 will not be amiss to send them out by themselves, when the men go out 

 to exercise their horses. If you have hares in plenty, let some be found 

 sitting, and turned out before them ; and you will soon find the most 

 riotous will not run after them. If you intend them to be made steady 

 from deer, they should often see deer, and they will not regard them ; and 

 if, after a probation of this kind, you turn out a cub before them, with some 

 old hounds to lead them on, you may assure yourself they will not be 

 unsteady long ; for, as Somerville rightly observes, 



Easy the lesson of the youthful train 



When instinct prompts, and when example guides. 



Flogging hounds in the kennel (the frequent practice of most huntsmen) 

 I hold in abhorrence : it is unreasonable, unjust, and cruel ; and, carried 

 to the excess we sometimes see it, it is a disgrace to humanity. Hounds 

 that are old offenders, that are very riotous, and at the same time very 

 cunning, it may be difficult to catch ; such hounds may be excepted ; they 

 deserve punishment wherever taken, and you should not fail to give it them 

 when you can. This, you will allow, is a particular case, and necessity may 

 excuse it ; but let not the peace and quiet of your kennel be often thus 

 disturbed. When your hounds offend, punish them ; when caught in the 

 fact, then let them suffer ; and, if you be severe, at least be just. 



