LETTER XXVIII. 311 



right or wrong. If they run back only a certain distance, 

 and then break off right or left, they have only followed 

 their game, and are entitled to praise instead of rebuke. 



A good cry is half the fun with your currant jelly 

 dogs. Formerly, we are told, some hare-hunters were as 

 particular as to the melody of their hounds as to their 

 hunting qualities. Noisy, chattering hounds — or, as 

 they are more frequently called, babblers — should be 

 drafted, for, like long-winded orators, their opinions so 

 loudly expressed are vox et preterea nihil. I have seen 

 harriers of all sizes, from the small beagle of 14 or 16 

 inches to the foxhound of 22 inches. I should select the 

 medium, from 20 to 2\ in height. It is much more easy 

 to obtain hounds of this standard, and you may always 

 breed sufficient to keep them up afterwards. With a 

 pack of twenty couples, you need not put forward more 

 than six or seven couples of young hounds, which will 

 allow for five, at least, standing good through the season. 



There is great art and science necessary to breed 

 hounds effectually. Those who breed largely will have 

 the best selection as to appearances ; but those who have 

 only a limited number of bitches must be particular in 

 mating them. The late Mr. Ward was the cleverest 

 man in this respect that I ever met with. He never 

 would breed from any bitches which were not quite per- 

 fect in all their performances^ and not until two or three 

 seasons had passed over their heads. His brood bitches, 

 therefore, were few in number ; but they generally pro- 

 duced such as he could depend upon. His unentered 

 draft of young hounds was a very scanty one, as I know 

 from experience, but they were sure to turn out well. 

 His old huntsman assured me he often considered a day 



