THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



five or thirty couples of open ones. Be it so ; still I do not 

 recommend the practice ; first, on account of the severity and 

 danger of tlio operation ; secondly, in that it deprives the animal 

 of perpetuating the excellent properties she might possess. It 

 is altogether a barbarous practice ; neither should an operation 

 of a similar nature be performed on a dog hound, unless in- 

 curably quarrelsome in the kennel. 



' Hounds, like horses, must be quite fit to go, or good foxes 

 will beat them. If you are to hunt your hounds yourself, it 

 must bo yourself that must look to this point, which must be 

 accomplished long before the season commences. In fact, it 

 is by your summer work that 3'our hounds will be fitted for 

 the winter's campaign. But here 3'ou must depend upon your 

 kennel huntsman, inasmuch as you cannot be expected to be 

 in the saddle at four o'clock in the morning, at which hour 

 3^our pack ought to be out, during the hot months, and occa- 

 sionally kept out for seven or eight hours at a time, especially 

 towards the approach of cub-hunting. I do not suppose you 

 will always feed j^our hounds yourself, neither do I think it 

 absolutely necessary ; but everything depends upon how it 

 is done. Experience will convince you that, whilst but few 

 hounds in your kennel can be allowed to eat their fill, there 

 are many who must be fed to a mouthful, and others enticed 

 to feed, to render them quite fit. It is on this account that, 

 unless a gentleman-huntsman always feeds in the hunting 

 season, he had better entrust it to other hands, guided by the 

 result of his observation of certain hounds in their work. If 

 your fixture is beyond ten or twelve miles from your kennel, 

 let your hounds (and horses) sleep out. They will be fresher 

 and stouter in their work the following day, and decidedly 

 better in a very sharp burst with their first fox, as well as 

 having more left in them for a good afternoon fox, and he 

 generally proves a good one — that is to say, comparatively 

 with the powers of his pursuers. 



' Get your young hounds into kennel in good time ; kennel 

 food will improve their shape, and they will be free from 

 chances of accidents, as also of acquiring loose habits. Re- 

 member that you will want a large kennel of working hounds, 

 and do not be in too great a hurry to draft. At all events, 

 you must put forward thirty couples, which will allow for the 

 ravages of the distemper, should it attack them, and also admit 



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