44 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



be considerable (fifteen or sixteen couple), I make a large draft of my 

 steadiest hounds, which are kept with the young hounds in a separate 

 kennel, and are hunted with them all the first part of the season. This, 

 when the old hounds begin to hunt, makes two distinct packs, and is always 

 attended with great trouble and inconvenience. Nothing hurts a pack 

 so much, as to enter many young hounds ; since it must be considerably 

 weakened, by being robbed of those which are the most steady ; and yet 

 young hounds can do nothing without their assistance. Such, therefore, 

 as constantly enter their young hounds in this manner, will, sometimes at 

 least, have two indifferent packs, instead of one good one. 



In the other method, the young hounds are well awed from sheep, 

 but never stooped to a scent till they are taken out with the pack : they 

 are then taken out, a few only at a time ; and, if your pack be perfectly 

 steady, and well manned, may not give you much trouble. The method 

 I first mentioned, is that which I most commonly practise, being most 

 suitable to the number of young hounds that I usually enter nine or ten 

 couple : if you have fewer, the last will be most convenient. The one 

 which requires two distinct packs, is on too extensive a plan to suit your 

 establishment, requiring more horses and more hounds than you intend to 

 keep. 1 



Though I have mentioned, in a former Letter, from eight to twelve 

 couple of young hounds, as a sufficient number to keep up your pack to 

 its present establishment, yet it is always best to have a reserve of a few 

 couple more than you want, in case of accidents ; since, from the time 

 you make your draft to the time of hunting, is a long period, and their 

 existence, at that age and season, very precarious ; besides, when they 

 are safe from the disorder, they are not always safe from each other ; and 

 a summer seldom passes without some losses of that kind. At the same 

 time I must tell you, that I should decline entering more than are necessary 

 to keep up the pack ; since a great number would only create useless trouble 

 and vexation. 



You wish to know what number of old hounds you should hunt with 

 the young ones : that must depend on the strength of your pack, and 



1 To render fox-hunting perfect, no young hounds should be taken into the pack the first 

 season ; a requisite too expensive for most sportsmen. The pack should consist of about forty 

 couple of hounds, that have hunted one, two, three, four, or five seasons. The young pack 

 should consist of about twenty couple of young hounds, and about an equal number of old 

 ones. They should have a separate establishment ; nor should the two kennels be near enough 

 to interfere with each other. The season over, the best of the young hounds should be taken 

 into the pack, and the draft of old ones exchanged for them. To enable you every season to 

 take in twenty couple of young hounds, many must be bred ; and, of course, the greater your 

 choice, the handsomer your pack will become. It will always be easy to keep up the number of 

 old hounds ; for, when your own draft is not sufficient, drafts from other packs may easily be 

 obtained, and at a small expense. When young hounds are hunted together the first season, 

 and have not a sufficient number of old hounds along with them, it does them more harm than 

 good. ,. 



