SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 153 



to be kept waiting half-an-hour even for his accus- 

 tomed meal. The fact is, that he is rather suffer- 

 ing at that time from irritability of stomach than 

 infirmity of disposition. As "hope deferred 

 maketh the heart sick/' so dinner deferred maketli 

 the stomach angry. Judging from our own 

 feelings, we may imagine those of animals when 

 similarly affected. By feeding our hounds with 

 the substantial meal about 3 o'clock P.M., in 

 moderate quantity, we calculated upon their not 

 beins: so lean as others fed so much earlier in the 

 day, and consequently better able to endure the 

 fatigue of hard work, bearing in mind Beckford's 

 observation, that a half-starved hound will never 

 kill an afternoon fox. 



Having mentioned some of the domestic duties 

 of a huntsman in kennel management, we must 

 now treat of his capabilities in the field — a wide 

 field for the display of all the talents the cleverest 

 man may possess ; and since in all occupations or 

 possessions the power of mind becomes conspicuous 

 above others not so highly gifted, so will it prove 

 in this instance. A huntsman must possess intel- 

 lect of a superior order, or his career will never be 

 a brilliant one. As to voice, we think that of 

 secondary importance, or we might add, of no 

 importance at all, although the tones well modu- 

 lated ever fiill pleasantly upon the ear. If hounds 

 understand the meaning of their master's language 

 it is enough ; and as they are supposed to find a 

 fox, there is no merit in his finding him for them. 

 Knowledge of country is of very great importance 



