HORSES AND HOUNDS. 107 



quiet during the night. I have before remarked that I always 

 gave my hounds a little thin lap in the morning about eight 

 o'clock. When feeding, there is no necessity for either hunts- 

 man or whipper-in using a whip. I have often seen huntsmen, 

 and I believe it is their usual practice, to feed by the whip as 

 much or more than by the voice. You see them standing at the 

 door, pointing with the whip to each hound as he is called in ; 

 and hounds, in their eagerness for their dinner, with their eyes 

 fixed upon the huntsman and his whip, often mistake a sign 

 made for another as intended for themselves, and get a good cut 

 for their pains. I had always some very thin switches or light 

 hazel sticks, not thicker than my finger, kept in the feeding 

 house ; but never allowed a whip to be used at dinner hours. I 

 threw the door open after looking well over the lot of hounds I 

 was about to feed, and then called each hound by name dis- 

 tinctly as he was to come in ; if one rushed in unbidden he was 

 ordered back again, and if he did not obey, the whipper-in or 

 feeder gave him a gentle reminder with the switch. Hounds 

 are very sensible animals, and soon understand what is required 

 of them, if their master is quiet and steady with them, and does 

 not get out of temper. In Beckford's time, huntsmen used to 

 flog their hounds whilst feeding tliem to teach them their 

 names, and he quaintly observes, "that if they had not always 

 a bellyful one way, they seldom failed to get it the other." 

 The confusion 1 have also witnessed at feeding time in some 

 kennels was disgusting. I shall only observe, that any man 

 who cannot feed his hounds without knocking them about with 

 the whip, frightening the timid and dri\dng the others in and 

 over the troughs, is not fit to hold the situation of huntsman. It 

 is not my wish to exact too much or more than I think any 

 man of moderate common sense can attain to, but nothing 

 can be done with dogs or animals of any kind in the way of 

 instruction unless common sense is combined with quietness 

 and cool decision, without violence or any exhibition of temper. 

 The best plan for most huntsmen to pursue (and it is one I in- 

 variably adopt myself) is to feed only five or six couples of hounds 

 at a time. The feeding troughs having covers with hinges, can be 

 kept on or let down at pleasure, and the food will remain warm 

 enough during the whole time of feeding. I generally allowed 

 an hour for feeding the whole pack, and walking them out, and 

 it ought not to be done in less time» 



