SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 39 



every master will put forward several couples more 

 than are required for the entry. In a two and 

 occasional three day per week country, ten couples 

 will be necessary, and a third more should be kept, 

 and so in proportion to the magnitude of the 

 establishment. 



Seasons vary very much, some being more favour- 

 able to the growth of foxhound whelps as well as 

 other animals ; it is therefore advisable, when such 

 occur, to avail ourselves of the opportunity by 

 selecting as many young hounds as can be reason- 

 ably maintained, lest, a bad season following, the 

 next year's entry prove deficient in quantity as 

 well as quality. There is no more pleasing sight 

 to a master's eye than a clever lot of young- 

 puppies just sent in from their walks ; and certainly 

 he has reason to be proud of his success, coupled 

 with good luck, in his having so many returned to 

 the kennel. Then comes the examination day, 

 when a few select friends are invited — genuine 

 foxhunters, who know every old hound in the pack, 

 and observe their work in the field — to pass their 

 opinions on the points of merit in the young ones. 

 To the great majority of hunting men a day on the 

 flags presents as m.any attractions as an old lady's 

 tea-party — a dull, stupid affair, with a deal of 

 gossip about pedigrees and proportions of hounds, 

 in which they have no desire to take part. Few 

 there are — very, very few — who take the well- 

 being of the pack into consideration. 



In choosing young hounds for the entry, we 

 are not groping in the dark, as when they were 



