SCIEXCE OF FOXHUNTING, 91 



habits. There is one fault only for which a young 

 hound ought to be drafted, and may be put fairly 

 aside immediately — too much tongue. We have 

 never known an instance of amendment in this 

 case. Babbling increases with years. It cannot 

 be determined whether a young hound, not free 

 with his tongue, can be classed among mutes, before 

 a fair trial has been given him. He may pro- 

 bably be of a modest, taciturn disposition, or, 

 having tasted Jack's whipcord for venturing to 

 proclaim he was running a fox, when Jack would 

 insist he was running a hare, he might feel shy of 

 speaking on the subject again for some time. 



Skirting is not of very early development ; but 

 if a young hound does persist in taking a line of 

 his own, after repeated attempts to keep him with 

 the pack, he must be underlined in the list. 



