SCflENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 165 



thus travelling on their outward journey, and in 

 coming home also, tired hounds should be allowed 

 plenty of room to pick their way through sloppy 

 roads or lanes in bad weather. We dislike to see 

 hounds at any time huddled up together round 

 their huntsman, like a flock of sheep penned in the 

 corner of a field, by a dog snapping round them. 

 When the entry have become steady, and are ad- 

 mitted into the pack, discipline of this kind is as 

 injurious as unnecessary, since we have remarked 

 that hounds kept in such strict order are more 

 inclined to run riot than those treated with more 

 confidence. The late Assheton Smith was, in this 

 respect, the most trusting huntsman we have ever 

 seen in the field, and we were often amused with 

 the sudden change in the behaviour of his hounds 

 on his arrival at the place of meeting. Whilst in 

 charge of the kennel-huntsman and two whips 

 they trotted along in a compact body, solemnly and 

 demurely, not a hound venturing to step out of 

 place ; but no sooner did they catch sight of tlieir 

 master, or hear his voice, than, breaking loose from 

 further restraint, like boys out of school, they rushed 

 eagerly to meet him, jumping and playing round 

 his horse, with other manifestations of excessive 

 delight. The character of the hounds seemed 

 changed in a moment, and as they moved off to 

 draw covert, an independence of action was assumed 

 totally at variance with their former deportment. 

 They knew no whipper-in dare touch or control 

 them in their huntsman's presence, to whom, how- 

 ever, they yielded that cheerful obedience so pleasing 



