226 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



A stormy day, with a high wind, is particularly unfa- 

 vourable to sport, and injurious even to a good pack of 

 hounds. Wild weather makes wild hounds. Upon such 

 a day, young hounds, even if steady up to that time, will 

 run riot, and old hounds commit excesses. In large 

 woodlands, the whipper-in, unless keeping under the 

 wind and close to the hounds, cannot tell what they are 

 about, and wilful hounds seize the opportunity of fol- 

 lowing the bent of their own inclination, and often throw 

 the whole pack into confusion. Both huntsman and 

 whipper-in must be particularly alert on such an occa- 

 sion, or the hounds may slip down wind, and be away, 

 without their being aware of their having left the covert. 

 Avoid, if possible, drawing large coverts at all on a 

 very stormy day ; but if unavoidable, take out a short 

 pack of hounds — sixteen or eighteen couples only. Se- 

 lect your oldest and steadiest, and if you wish to keep 

 your pack steady, leave any doubtful characters at home, 

 and all your young hounds. On such a day recollect 

 that young hounds can he of no service, and you run an 

 almost certain risk of unsettling them from any previous 

 steadiness they may have acquired. 



The scent is often so queer (it is the best term I can 

 employ to express my meaning) in boisterous weather, 

 that I have known the steadiest hounds unable to distin- 

 guish the scent of a fox from that of a hare. I remem- 

 ber a very steady and favourite hound running a hare 

 scent on one of these riotous days ; nor did he appear to 

 know he was doing wrong. To similar facts the expe- 

 rience of old masters of hounds and huntsmen will, I have 

 no doubt, add corroborative testimony. 



Many a time have I sallied forth into this war of ele- 



