24 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



heads and swan-like necks, and very pretty they are to 

 look at. Much contempt, also, is thrown upon what is 

 facetiously called John Ward's neckcloth. Yet, not- 

 withstanding, there is a good deal of neckcloth still to be 

 seen in many hounds ; and I do not find that these ojd-, 

 fashioned-looking gentlemen are a bit worse than your - 

 more dandified-looking brethren. 



Mr. Ward was, undoubtedly, one of the best breeders 

 of foxhounds in his day ; some of them, it must be con- 

 fessed, were rather throaty, with large heads as well, but 

 the frame-work was generally correct. They were, how- 

 ever, good at their game, steady drawers, good and quick 

 hunters, and stout to the last. They were too large un- 

 questionably for the fiinty country they hunted, and their 

 feet suffered severely ; but when they changed their 

 country, no pack of hounds ever showed more sport. 

 They could do what many packs cannot afford to do — 

 give their fox a fair start, and make pretty sure of catch- 

 ing him afterwards. Good heads and necks are very 

 desirable for appearance sake, but they are not to be 

 considered essential points. 



The earlier you can begin breeding the better. Novem- 

 ber is the earliest month for coupling, but whelps born 

 after May seldom arrive at perfection. The seasbn ex- 

 ercises a decided influence over young animals of almost 

 every kind, I believe — certainly over horses and hounds. 

 Of this I saw a remarkable instance in two litters of 

 puppies by the same sire and dam, in two successive 

 seasons. The first litter, produced in the month of 

 February, were very clever, with good legs and feet ; the 

 second litter, born in June following, were just the reverse; 

 in fact, out of the five whelps saved, there was not one 



