153 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



of discipline should have so thoroughly counteracted 

 their natural propensities, as to render them so generally 

 indifferent to the sight, or scent, of anything but that of 

 fox to which they were entered. This, under the old 

 system, was still more surprising, as it was the common 

 custom, even in the best schools, to enter young hounds, 

 in the first instance, to the scent of hare, with the idea 

 of teaching them to stoop to a scent, no matter what. 

 Upon the same principle would gamekeepers encourage 

 young pointers to stand at lark. The correction which 

 must follow, in order to eradicate the seeds which we 

 have ourselves taken pains to implant, appears, to say 

 the least of it, a most unreasonable tax upon instinct. 

 If a hound never notices the scent of hare in chase, 

 you cannot blame him if he chops one, or even pauses 

 to share a dainty meal, quickly despatched, with a com- 

 rade or two. For 



" Reason raise o'er instinct as we can, 

 In this 'tis God that works, in that 'tis man." 



He would be a fool if he did not "take the good 

 the gods provide" him, under his nose; but the 

 whipper-in must be quick in the detection of such 

 occurrences, must be active in forcing his w^ay instantly 

 to the rescue of the victim, which rescue, with whip 

 and rating voice, he must effect, making the hound 

 feel conscious that he cannot, with impunity, perpe- 

 trate any act of which he is ashamed. The best and 

 steadiest of packs cannot be free entirely from hounds 

 which will occasionally run riot, such hounds being 



