HOUND MANAGEMENT 191 



its youth the young hound will, after returning to 

 kennel from the walk — usually at the end of the hunt- 

 ing season which follows its birth — begin its education. 

 It will probably require medicine on its return to 

 kennel ; the change of habits and curtailment of 

 freedom making a good deal of difference for some 

 few weeks. It takes time, too, for the young hound 

 to accustom itself to its new home and its change of 

 master. 



The huntsman will, in these early days, accustom 

 the puppy to the use of its name, and regular exercise, 

 and will break it gradually from riot — that is, from 

 running after sheep, deer, rabbits, and other quad- 

 rupeds. Riot is a terrible nuisance in a pack, and ought 

 to be sternly repressed. Yet, even in first-rate packs 

 of hounds, accidents will happen, especially in the 

 early days of hunting. Here are a couple of entries 

 from Mr. Nesfield's diary, which tell their own tale: 



" 6th November (i860) ' Trueman ' and ' Ringwood ' 

 accused of sheep killing ! Hang them / " " Satur- 

 day loth October {1877) Under Nelson's rocks. A 

 gale of wind. Hounds wild. Sheep all over. Killed 

 two lambs and went home in a rage. ' Champion ' 

 the worst." " Saturday, 20th October. Sparklow. 

 First regular day. Had one very good run, but thrown 

 out by railway, and no kiU. Foggy. ' Champion ' 

 again killed a sheep. He must be hung ! " These 

 harriers (the High Peak) were, however, at this time, 

 dwarf foxhounds. Harriers proper are not so fierce, 

 or so difficult to break from riot, as are hounds of pure 

 foxhound blood. Sheep riot is especially dangerous, 

 for, once a hound has tasted blood and the delights 

 of this kind of sport, it is a matter of extreme difficulty 

 to break him of the habit. Some authorities recom- 

 mend as a cure, other than the rope, the coupling of 



