THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 195 



best. It was an old custom to take all the whelps away, 

 having determined what number to keep, and settle the 

 choice on those which the bitch carried first back to the 

 place where she had littered. Another plan was to take 

 those which were last pupped ; but all this must be 

 matter of chance. As soon as they can see, they should 

 have milk given them to lap ; and, at two months old, 

 they should be weaned, keeping them wholly from the 

 bitch. At three months old, they are fit to go to walk ; 

 and, at ten months old, they should return, to commence 

 their education in the kennel. If they are named before 

 going to walk, it saves trouble on their return, and pre- 

 vents their adoption of any ridiculous names, which the 

 fanciful, rather than sporting taste of their guardians, 

 may accord to them. The operation of rounding their 

 ears should be performed early in the spring, that they 

 may be thoroughly healed before being subjected to the 

 annoyance of heat or flies. After a short period of exer- 

 cise, like an awkward squad of recruits by themselves, 

 they will be fit to join the main body, and very shortly, 

 after the end of hunting, should accompany the pack in 

 couples. By the time for entering them, they should 

 be as handy as old hounds in obedience ; this can only 

 be effected by constantly practising them abroad, accus- 

 toming them to horses, to the voice of the huntsman, 

 and gradually initiating them in the discipline essential 

 to steadiness, which tempers their gaiety, without de- 

 stroying the force of their animal spirits. Whether the 

 pack is divided into dogs and bitches, separate, or not, 



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