VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 77 



hungry enough, will go through the gate in the precise order in which 

 lie is called by the feeder ; and, in a well-broken pack, to chop at, or to 

 ibllow a hare, or to give tongue on a false scent, or even to break cover 

 alone, although the fox is in view, are faults that are rarely witnessed. 



Let not this obedience, however, be purchased by the infliction of a 

 degree of cruelty that disgraces both the master and the menial. A young 

 J ox-hound may, possibly, mistake the scent of a hare for that of a fox, and 

 {^ive tongue. In too many hunts he will be unmercifully flogged for this, 

 and some have almost died under the lash. Mercy is a word totally un- 

 <nown to a great proportion of whippers-in, and even to many who call 

 themselves gentlemen. There can be no occasion or excuse for barbarity : 

 ,1 little trouble, and moderate punishment, and the example of his fellows, 

 will gradually teach the wildest hound his duty. 



That the huntsman, and not the hound, may occasionally be in fault, the 

 following anecdote will furnish sufficient proof. In drawing a strong 

 cover, a young bitch gave tongue very freely, while none of the other 

 hounds challenged. The whipper-in railed to no purpose ; the huntsman 

 insisted that she was wrong, and the whip was applied with great severity. 

 In doing this, the lash accidentally struck one of her eyes out of its socket. 



Notwithstanding the dreadful pain that must have ensued, she again 

 took up the scent, and proved herself right ; for the fox had stolen away, 

 and she had broken cover after him, unheeded and alone. After much delay 

 and cold hunting, the pack hit off the same scent. 



At some distance a farmer informed the sportsmen, that they were a 

 long way behind the fox, for he had seen a single hound, very bloody about 

 the head, running breast-high, so that there was but little chance of their 

 getting up with her. The pack, from her coming to a check, did at length 

 overtake her. 



The same bitch once more hit off the scent, and the fox was killed, after 

 a long and severe run. The eye of the poor animal, that had hung pen- 

 dent through the chace, was then taken off with a pair of scissors. 



THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON. 



During the beginning of autumn, the hounds should be daily exercised 

 when the weather will permit. They should often be called over in the ken- 

 nel to habituate them to their names, and walked out among the sheep and 

 deer, in order that they may be accustomed perfectly to disregard them. 



A few stout hounds being added to the young ones, some young foxes 

 may occasionally be turned out. If they hunt improper game, they must 

 be sternly checked. Implicit obedience is required until they have been 

 sufficiently taught as to the game which they are to pursue. No obsti- 

 nate deviation from it must ever be pardoned. The hounds should be, as 

 much as possible, taken out into the country which they are afterwards to 

 hunt, and some young foxes are probably turned out for them to pursue. 

 At length they are suffered to hunt their game in thorough earnest, and 

 to taste of its blood. 



After this they are sent to more distant covers, and more old hounds 

 are added, and so they continue until they are taken into the pack, which 

 usually happens in September. The young hounds continue to be added, 

 two or three couple at a time, until all have hunted. They are then divided 

 into two packs, to be taken out on alternate days. Properly speaking, the 



