1 86 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



be healthier or in better condition. They hunt three 

 days a week, and are seldom sick or sorry. Mr. 

 Southerden, who owns these hounds, says : "I feed 

 almost exclusively on raw flesh, which is thrown 

 down to the hounds on the grass in great joints, so 

 that they can tear the flesh from the bones. It does 

 not do to throw down small pieces of meat, or 

 hounds will swallow it without masticating. Of 

 course, when fed on flesh hounds require much more 

 exercise than when fed on meal, and it is absolutely 

 necessary to give them plenty of fresh water to drink, 

 and to sprinkle a good dusting of flowers of sulphur 

 in the water which they lap up. Some people use 

 stone brimstone, but my experience is that the flowers 

 are by far the best for the purpose. The water should 

 be emptied out every morning and a fresh supply 

 given. Hounds should be fed only once a day on 

 flesh, after they have had their walk ; when wanted 

 for work next day, it is well to feed about two or three 

 o'clock in the afternoon, when they require nothing 

 more before the next night, after returning from 

 hunting." 



No one who keeps hounds, whether they be harriers or 

 foxhounds, can afford to be without a copy of Beckford's 

 classic on hunting. Even at this distance of time it is 

 an invaluable book. I annex a few passages on feeding : 



" My hounds are generally fed about eleven o'clock ; 

 and if I am present myself I take the same opportunity 

 to make my draft for the next day's hunting." 



" Hounds that are tender feeders cannot be fed too 

 late, or with meat too good." 



" Hounds, I think, should be sharp-set before hunt- 

 ing ; they run the better for it." 



"If hounds are shut up as soon as they come in 

 from hunting they will not readily leave the benches 



