FOX-HOUNDS 247 



consist principally of draft hounds ; consequently, 

 many are skirters, probably half the pack ; but as 

 they are strangers to the coimtr}% they do not skirt 

 so much, but hold together better ; and always 

 being at work as they are (in their o^^ti way), 

 against so many heads a fox has not much chance. 

 The success may also be in some measure partly 

 attributed to a new pack not entering many yomig 

 hounds the first year. 



Hounds that dwell too much on the scent, or 

 that throw their tongues when behmd the pack in 

 chase, should also be drafted. 



Bitches are generally more unsteady than dogs ; 

 but if either are not broken from it the first year, 

 they seldom become perfectly steady afterwards. 



The sooner bitches are put to dogs after the first 

 of January- the better, as few packs are strong 

 enough to spare many bitches early in the season ; 

 and when they do, they generally feel the differ- 

 ence, that is, if the bitches are worth breeding 

 from ; therefore it is much better to have a greater 

 number of bitches than usual, than to weaken 

 the pack by taking out the brood bitches, as no 

 doubt the earUer the whelps come the better. 

 The bitches had better not hunt for a week after 

 taking the dog, nor be hunted longer than a month 



