LETTER VI. 



The young hounds should be well over the distemper, 

 and accustomed to go without couples, before they are 

 rounded ; the loss of blood from this operation is some- 

 times excessive, and 1 once lost several young hounds 

 from their being rounded before thoroughly recovered 

 from the effects of distemper. It should not be deferred 

 too long, however, and a cool day should be chosen for 

 the purpose. The hounds should be fed early in the 

 morning, or they will become sick and faint from loss of 

 blood, and perhaps eat nothing afterwards on that day. 



Preparation for the hunting season now commences. 

 The young hounds will be kept separate from the pack 

 until about a month before the campaign opens. In the 

 meantime they are supposed to have received their proper 

 education. When for the first time taken among deer, 

 it is safer to have them in couples, to prevent mischief. 

 If you have no deer yourself, permission may be easily 

 obtained from your neighbours to allow your young 

 hounds to exercise an hour or two once or twice a week 

 in their parks. They will soon become accustomed to 

 them ; and the huntsman, by crossing them over the scent, 

 will instruct them not to stoop to it. The scent of the 

 deer is the sweetest of all game, and I have often seen 

 young hounds, even so kite as March, when they ought 



