200 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



by once being driven off their beds to stretch them- 

 selves. Their food, though warm, should not be hot, 

 or it may have a prejudicial effect upon their noses; 

 as it is reasonable to suppose that the delicate sense 

 of smell may be affected by the act of constantly inhal- 

 ing the steaming fumes, so grateful when in less imme- 

 diate contact with their olfactory nerves. The idea of 

 barley-meal, or, indeed, of any substitute for the best old 

 oatmeal that can be procured at any price, has long 

 been exploded in kennels of any pretension ; nor will 

 greaves, or any other nastiness, be found admissible in 

 place of good horse or cow-flesh. Good old meal, such 

 as may be bought at Cork, at an average of £15 per ton, 

 will boil into a consistency very much resembling good 

 rice pudding. This, broken up and thinned with broth, 

 to which is added flesh which has been boiled to shreds, 

 in quantities varying, of course, with the system of re- 

 spective kennels, and the exigencies of the pack at the 

 time being, forms the best and most nutritious diet for 

 hounds in work which has yet been discovered. During 

 summer months, some variety, and divers experiments, 

 may be made with impunity ; but, in the season, it is 

 not safe, materially to alter the regimen which expe- 

 rience has proved to answer. Wheat flour may be 

 sparingly mixed with oatmeal, as a measure of eco- 

 nomy, being generally cheaper ; but wheat, although 

 furnishing the " staff of life " for man, will not afford 



