SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 195 



round again. A list of the hounds drawn for the 

 day's hunting should be carried in his pocket, so 

 that if any are missing, by reference to this slip of 

 paper, in calling over their names, he will at once 

 see which it is. In large establishments this may 

 be thought a work of supererogation ; but as the 

 huntsman has some leisure hours after returning to 

 the kennel, even supposing he hunts every day in 

 the week, sufficient time Avill be found for this 

 post-prandial occupation. The number of the 

 hunting pack will depend upon the body from 

 which they are drawn. 



We are no advocates for useless incumbrances, 

 and although the great Mr. Meynell was wont, as 

 is said, to appear at the place of meeting with 

 some forty or fifty couples in his earlier days, he 

 lived to discover that this was a great mistake. 

 We consider eighteen 'couples the outside com- 

 plement to take into the field, no matter what the 

 country may be, either pasture or woodland, a 

 small body of hounds being more likely to hold 

 together than a large one ; and if they should 

 divide, eight or nine couples, if good, are sufficient 

 to kill the stoutest fox that ever bore a brush. 

 We first commenced our foxhunting career with 

 eight couples and a half only of draft-hounds — 

 odds and, ends from an old kennel ; but being 

 known to each other, they made a surprising fight 

 across country, and, strange to say, rarely missed 

 their fox, although, some being in their first season, 

 and others in their sixth and seventh, they could 

 not be said to go together like a flock of pigeons, 



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