29 



considers the weKare of the hounds before his own 

 comfort or convenience ; it should not be forgotten 

 however, that he is only human, therefore requiring 

 a little pleasure and relaxation apart from his duties. 

 It may be that he will have to rise at four in the 

 morning in midsummer for early exercise, and it is 

 only natural, after a strenuous day, he should desire 

 to get his work done and enjoy a Httle time to himseK. 

 With a master who knows what is required and a 

 huntsman who looks after the interests of the men 

 under him, it is possible to arrange for the staff to 

 get alternate afternoons off. 



When, as I have already said, the men, after an 

 early beginning, have had a hard day, it is only 

 natural they should want to feed in good time and 

 get finished. Now the best time for feeding in hot 

 weather is about an hour before sundown, and it 

 stands to reason that this would prevent the men 

 getting away unless arrangements were made for half 

 the staff to undertake the duty on alternate days. In 

 most estabUshments there are at least four men, in- 

 cluding the huntsman and feeder, so that it should 

 be possible to arrange. With the food ready, two 

 men would be sufficient to feed, do the few minutes' 

 walk in the grass yard, and clean up. 



In a pack there are always gross feeders that will 

 be ready to gorge themselves at any hour or in any 

 weather, but the less greedy and the young hounds 

 do not appear to gain their natural appetites in the 

 heat of the day. In getting and keeping hounds in 

 condition, it is of the utmost importance that they 

 should all feed well. 



Mention has already been made of not allowing the 

 entered hound to lose the muscle he made the previous 



