THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 201 



I have before alluded to what appears to me the obvious 

 absurdity of ancient usage, that of entering foxhounds 

 to hare. I have since deeply considered the point in all 

 its bearings, as something which could not have found 

 acceptance in the mind of Mr. Meynell, unless grounded 

 upon some rational principle. He discontinued it, but 

 he must have had reason for ever having once inclined 

 to it ; and the only defence I can find of such a doc- 

 trine, the only argument m its favour, is, that young 

 hounds were first to be shown what they were not to 

 hunt. It seems to me, that when hounds are not only 

 shown their game, but cheered on, and encouraged to 

 follow it, their nature will be stronger than the reason- 

 ing instinct, which must tell them to eschew forbidden 

 fruit, once tasted and enjoyed. High-bred foxhounds, 

 beyond all doubt, prefer the scent of fox to any other. 

 When I had dwarf foxhounds as harriers, they would, 

 when settled to a fox, run through any number of hares 

 without noticing the scent or sight of them, and, on the 

 same day, would afterwards hunt hare like beagles. It is 

 quite evident that you may trust very much to the reason- 

 ing instinct of the animal hound, and that upon throwing 

 young hounds into a covert full of riot, it is far better to 

 leave them entirely alone, to let them dash off with what- 

 ever scent they may, than to commence rating them in 

 a manner which may well make them wonder what you 

 brought them there for. " Never mind them, let them 

 find it out," were the words of one of the best sports- 

 men of the day ; " they will soon learn that they are 



