46 HOUNDS. 



open. For the whole of that season those hounds 

 could never be trusted, whereas before this incident 

 all the old hounds were perfectly steady. 



The same thing happened almost identically, 

 years ago now^, to a West Country pack of fox- 

 hounds. One of the whippers-in was late, and, 

 instead of waiting, the huntsman started out with 

 thirty couples and a lad. It was barely light, and 

 just after leaving kennel a cur dog intervened, with 

 exactly the same result. The lad, who was there 

 and saw the whole thing happen, was afterwards 

 in my service, and has often described the circum- 

 stance to me. I simply mention these two cases 

 to show how a small thing often leads to much 

 annoyance. 



By the first week in September, where there are 

 large woodlands, cub-hunting will be in full swing. 

 The early morning is without question the best time 

 to go out. Some masters have gone out in the 

 latter part of the afternoon, but I am convinced the 

 practice is wrong. 



In a country well stocked with foxes, and most of 

 the coverts open to the master (what this means to 

 a master he alone knows), it is well to give them 

 all, both far from kennel as well as those lying near, 

 a good rattling, to educate the cubs as well as the 

 entry. 



I have noticed that, if a litter is only rattled about 

 and hounds do not account for one of their number, 



