48 HUNTING. 



believer in this theory, we are convinced that the scent of the 

 moorland sheep differs considerably from that of the ordinal y 

 sheep kept in the inclosed country. Then the temptations in 

 the case of the moorland sheep are far greater ; for hounds, 

 when they are quite out of the reach and observation of the 

 huntsman, frequently come upon a single sheep, in tlie middle 

 of a wood, at the exact spot passed by the hunted deer. Con- 

 sequently all entries, as soon after their arrival at the kennels as 

 possible, must be thoroughly broken from sheep, and entered 

 and blooded at deer. The best method of breaking puppies 

 from sheep is to take them out, coupled to old hounds, and 

 exercise them on parts of the moor where sheep are kept in 

 large numbers. If, during exercise, any of the puppies should 

 make an attempt to run at a sheep, he should be approached 

 stealthily and hit sharply with the whip, after which he should 

 be rated severely. If this practice be continued until July, 

 when the puppies should be entered at deer and blooded, they 

 will not give much trouble. 



The wear and tear to a pack of hounds hunting on the 

 Exmoors are very great. Not only have the hounds to go 

 long distances to and from the meets, and to endure the strain 

 of prolonged runs over very hard ground, but they have also to 

 leave their kennels for some days at a time in order that they 

 may hunt a distant part of the country. When kennelled in a 

 barn or other suitable building, biscuits must take the place of 

 oatmeal, since it is next to impossible to take the necessary 

 appliances for making pudding. The result of this change of 

 diet is very prejudicial to the condition of the hounds, who 

 return to their kennels with their muscles wasted and their 

 coats dry. In all respects the kennel management of stag- 

 hounds is the same as that in vogue in the best foxhound 

 kennels. The hour of feeding hounds on the day previous to 

 hunting has long been a vexed question. But the weight of 

 evidence is decidedly in favour of eight o'clock in the morning, 

 the hour at which the Exford pack is fed. 



There is also considerable difference of opinion in relation 



