BLOOD. 349 



assumes an incurable type. The chief part of its proper 

 treatment consists in careful nursing and attention to sani- 

 tation. 



Shortly after the return of the youngsters to kennel, a 

 puppy show is held for the encouragement of those who 

 have walked them. The judges are neighbouring Masters 

 and Huntsmen, and the prizes are almost always silver cups. 

 The show, with its luncheon for the exhibitors, is a pleasant 

 and useful function for the promotion of good feeling in 

 the country towards hunting. 



BLOOD. 



In the general pursuit of game as a sport, the idea among 

 Englishmen is that the quarry should have a fair chance of 

 escape. Therefore, digging out a fox which has gone to 

 earth and giving him to the hounds to be broken up, may 

 appear at first glance to be unsportsmanlike. On the other 

 hand, we have the fact, that to be keen, hounds require 

 blood. Tom Firr puts the case admirably in the following 

 words : " When a bad, short-running fox goes to ground 

 for instance, if he can be got out and dispatched, so much 

 the better, for he is the sort to blood hounds with. It must 

 be borne in mind that it is necessary to keep hounds well in 

 blood. On the other hand, if a fox makes a point of seven 

 or eight miles, or as many more as you like, and goes to 

 ground, cheer the hounds at the earth to the very echo, 

 rejoice over it as if you had him, but by all means leave him 

 there. He is the sort you want for another day." 



On this subject, the late Captain King-King wrote me, " I 

 cannot imagine anyone but an ignorant theorist upholding the 

 idea that blood is needless for hounds. The way to break a 

 hawk from undesirable game is to fly her at it with her legs 

 weighted, and she will soon leave off the pursuit of the 

 unattainable, unlike some human beings. Also, setters and 



