viii HUNTING. 



your knowledge of the craft, but for sport, it is far 

 better to stick to one pack, taking the "good and 

 bad " meets as they come. Selecting " good 

 meets " often ends in disappointment. 



Study the nature and habits of the fox. Study 

 the points of the hound, so that you may be able to 

 tell a good-shaped hound from an indifferent 

 animal. Study his nature, his habits and various 

 qualities. Some hounds are better at finding a fox, 

 some can carry the line over dry fallows and down 

 hard roads better than others. Study their pedi- 

 grees and you will find these qualities are hereditary. 

 Learn their names, watch them at work, and you 

 will find that what to the generality of the field has 

 been a dull day's sport, " a good day for hounds," 

 as some call it, has been a most amusing, enjoyable 

 and instructive day for you. 



To pick up the above knowledge it is of course 

 necessary frequently to visit the kennel. Huntsmen 

 like people who really take interest in them, to go 

 and see the hounds, and I have often heard them 

 regret so few people come to look at the hounds 

 during the summer months. 



By visiting the kennel you will also learn a 

 lot about the interior economy ; the feeding, the 

 doctoring of the hounds, and endless useful know- 

 ledge ; and you will be surprised to find how 

 absolutely ignorant nine people out of ten are who 

 go out hunting, and how the most ignorant talk 



the most. 



Your affectionate grandfather, 



NORTH. 



