C6 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



are, even by amateurs, but they are hardly trans- 

 ferable to paper. Hounds, however, being great 

 linguists, readily comprehend the meaning of the 

 language in which they are addressed, whether 

 it be English, French, or that most unintelligible 

 of all tongues — Welsh. As to the words used, 

 whether classical, poetical, or dramatical, or the 

 reverse of all these, it matters not one tittle, pro- 

 vided the hounds themselves understand the meaning 

 in which they are used ; all that is required of 

 them being to answer to their names, come back 

 when called, turn here and there, as directed by 

 their huntsman. The professionals, however, gene- 

 ralty have a dull monotonous way of speaking to 

 and treating hounds when called, which produces 

 the contrary effect of willing obedience — we mean, 

 repeating their names a dozen times over, when 

 wishing to draw them from their kennel, at the 

 same time that the v/hipper-in is instructed to force 

 them up to the huntsman. This we maintain is a 

 very silly, slip-slop way of proceeding. For our 

 own part, we never allowed the interference of a 

 whipper-in in the kennel, neither did we ever draw 

 a hound by means of a whip, fully appreciating 

 their dislike to whipcord. When drawing or 

 feeding hounds, the only thing ever in our hands 

 was a thin hazel twig, not bigger than our little 

 finger, or a silk handkerchief taken from our pocket. 

 Then it must be borne in mind that these hounds 

 were affectionately attached to their master as a 

 pet spaniel to his mistress — and all our favourites 

 had nicknames in addition to their legitimate ones. 



