THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND. 13 



buzzing about him ? Well, he is a nephew of 

 mine, and makes it a rule, as his father did, 

 to carry home whatever part of the varmint 

 that falls to his share, and never eats it, unless 

 there is a great chance of its being dragged 

 away from him, till he gets to the kennel 

 door." 



*' Perhaps he wishes to show everybody on 

 the road that he had a hand in the breaking 

 up," said I. 



" I think vanity has something to do with 

 it, " replied my friend ; " but if so, he inherits 

 the pride from his sire, just as those 

 peculiarities I have named are inborn in 

 others." 



" I suppose, if these habits descend from 

 parent to child," I observed, " that vices are 

 also inheritable." 



'* Decidedly," replied Trimbush, beginning 

 to evince symptoms of drowsiness. " Rioting, 

 skirting, babbling, and all such-like faults, 

 are inheritable, and as much so as the 

 defective points in symmetry." 



" It appears to me somewhat harsh, then," 

 rejoined I, " to punish us for them." 



" That's a matter," added Trimbush, " I 

 must leave to be decided between you and Ned 



