THE I.IFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



standing leap over it every time they go into the shed to be 

 fed, etc. This last should be a single rail. When they are 

 perfect at this, which they will be in the course of a month, 

 let a ditch be digged, with the earth thrown up for a bank, 

 instead of the rail, or by the side of it, which rail should be 

 made higher, to prevent his preferring it to the ditch. They 

 will at first walk into the ditch, then get their forelegs on the 

 bank, and the hinder legs on the other side of the ditch ; but, 

 in the course of a day or two, they will quietly jump on the 

 bank. After being perfect in tliis, another ditch is cut on the 

 other side of the bank, and they will jump on and off', in a few 

 days, as well as any hunter. 



' The same eminent sportsman has given a useful hint on 

 riding to hounds, which particularly applies to your country. 

 " In the grass countries, " he says, " where the fences consist of 

 live quicks and thorns, you will do well to notice, when a hedge 

 is cut, which way it is laid down to the top, and put your horse 

 at it obliquely, with his head from the root of the thorn, and the 

 top of the thorn being weak will give way to the horse's legs ; 

 but if he goes straight against it, he stands a good chance of 

 a fall ; and if he goes obliquely, on the contrary plan, he 

 reduces his fall to a certainty, should the horse not clear any 

 strong plasher which rises when the horse's knees are under it, 

 but not so the other way." 



' Take the advice of an old sportsman, and do not trespass 

 too far on the willing powers of your horses. Rather than 

 insist upon their coming home, when showing evident signs of 

 distress, let them remain at some village for the night, leaving 

 a whipper-in in attendance. Hundreds of good hunters have 

 been destroyed by the neglect of this mere act of humanity 

 towards exhausted nature in a noble and willing animal. 



' On the subject of scent, I shall say nothing at present. 

 Few subjects ever excited more speculation, or the exercise of 

 more reasoning theory, than the one in question ; but, like the 

 peasant of the Alps, who looked abroad for happiness, we do 

 not appear to have acquired anything satisfactory by the 

 search. Harsh, drying winds, or impending storms, appear 

 to be the greatest obstacles to hounds working, but in the face 

 of all other apparently unfavourable circumstances, brilliant 

 runs have been experienced. Of its fleeting nature, perhaps 

 the most remarkable instance was related to me by a brother 



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