226 HUNTING TOURS. 



I trust his two sons, my kind friends, Mr. 

 John and Mr. George Hawkes, will forgive 

 me for availing myself of several extracts. 



" Mr. Meynell considered one of the im- 

 portant objects in breeding hounds was to 

 combine strength with beauty, and stoutness 

 with high mettle. The first qualities he 

 considered were fine noses and stout runners. 

 In the month of l^ovember the pack was 

 carefully divided into the old and young 

 pack. The old pack consisted of three-years- 

 old and upwards, and no two-years-old was 

 admitted except a very high opinion was 

 entertained of his virtues and abilities. The 

 young hounds were hunted twice a week, as 

 much in woodlands as possible, and in the 

 most unpopular coverts. When the hounds 

 were cast, it was in two or three lots, by 

 Mr. Meynell, his huntsman, and whipper-in, 

 and not driven together like a flock of sheep. 

 Whippers-in should turn hounds quietly, and 

 not call after them in a noisy disagreeable 

 manner. Whippers-in are too apt to think 

 their own importance consists in shouting, 

 hallooing, and unnecessary activity. Thought- 

 less sportsmen are apt to press too much 

 on hounds, particularly down a road. 



