THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 197 



the next, the loss was altogether as trifling. The most 

 promising young hounds, and the strongest (much as 

 depends upon strength of constitution), will not tho- 

 roughly recover the effects of distemper, if subjected 

 to its most virulent attack, without the greatest care. 

 Younger, that is, late or backward hounds, which have 

 got over it, under better circumstances, will be more 

 precocious. If ten couples are required for the entry, at 

 least sixteen couples may be put forward after the first 

 draft. It will then be good luck if ten couples stand 

 the test. Although the average may not exceed one in 

 five, certainly not more than one in four, it not unfre- 

 quently occurs, that one w^hole litter may have claims 

 to the highest consideration.* Upon the real merits of 

 an entry, it is, of course, impossible, or, at least, pre- 

 mature, to pass any opinion beyond that w^hich can be 

 determined by the eye, with regard to appearance, till 

 their qualifications have been fairly submitted to the 

 ordeal of 



CUB-HUNTING. 



Some countries have the advantage of great tracts of 

 woodland, independently of corn lands, in which hunt- 

 ing might be pursued all the year round. In Bedford- 

 shire and Northamptonshire it is necessary only to 

 suspend operations till the cubs are somewhat bigger 



* An extraordinary instance of such luck occurred in the Oakley pack. 

 Five couples of one litter, the produce of a bitch called Rosalind (pre- 

 sented by me to Lord Tavistock on account of her blood), by his Grasper, 

 all proved unexceptionable, and were all most effective through the 

 season. 



