16 NOTITIA VE.NATICA. 



and iii)>vaids, tuid no two-year-olds were admitted, except a very high 

 opinion was entertained of their virtues and abihties. The young hounds 

 were hunted twice a week as much in woodlands as possible, and in the 

 most unpopular covers ; the young pack had always a few couples of 

 steady old hounds with them. The old pack hunted the best country : 

 when any bad faidts were discovered, they were immediately drafted for 

 fear of contamination. Skirting, over-running the scent, and babbling, 

 were considered the greatest faults ; perfections consisted of true 

 guiders in hard running, and close patient hunters in a cold scent, to- 

 gether with stoutness. Mr. Meynel's hounds were criticised by himself 

 and his friends in the most minute manner ; every hound had his pecu- 

 liar talents, and was sure to have a fair opportunity of displaying them ; 

 some had the remarkable faculty of finding a fox, which they would do 

 almost invariably, notwithstanding twenty or thirty couple were out in 

 the same cover ; some had the propensity to hunt the doubles and short 

 turns ; some Avere inclined to be hard runners ; some had the remarkable 

 faculty of hunting the drag of a fox, which they would do very late in 

 the day : and sometimes the hardest runners were also the best hunters, 

 and fortunate was the year Avhen such excellences prevailed. Mr. Mey- 

 nel prided himself on the steadiness and the docility of his hounds, and 

 their hunting through sheep and hares, which he did in a very surprising 

 manner. lie seldom or never attempted to lift his hounds through 

 sheep, and from habit and the great flocks the hounds were accustomed 

 to, they carried the scent on most correctly and expeditiously, much 

 sooner than any lifting could accomplish. Mr. Meynel was not fond of 

 casting hounds ; when once they were laid upon the line of scent he 

 left it to them ; he only encouraged them to take pains, and kept aloof, 

 so that the steam of the horses could not interfere with the scent. 



When a fox was found in a gorse cover, very little noise or encourage- 

 ment Avas made : and when he went away, as soon as the hounds were 

 apprised of it, they did not go headlong after, but commenced very 

 quietly, settled and collected together graduall}^ mending their pace 

 and accumulating their force as they Avent along, completing Avhat was 

 emphatically termed a terrible burst. When his hounds came to a 

 check, every encouragement Avas given them to recover the scent, Avith- 

 out the huntsman getting amongst them or Avhippers-in driving them 

 about, A\diich is the common practice of most packs. The hounds Avere 

 halloed back to the place Avhere they brought the scent, and encouraged 

 to try round in their OAvn Avay, Avhich they generally did successfully, 

 avoiding the time lost in the mistalu^n practice of casting the hounds at 

 the heels of the huntsman. When the hounds Avere cast, it was in tAvo 

 or three lots, by Mr, Meynel, his huntsman, and Avhipper-in, and not 

 driven together In a body like a flock of slieej). They Avere alloAVod to 

 spread and use tlieir own sagacity at a very gentle pace, and not hurried 

 about in a blustering mannei', but juticMitly. It Avas Mr. Meynel's 

 opinion that a great noise and scolding of hounds made them Avild ; 

 correcting them in a quiet Avay Avas the most judicious method ; Avhip- 

 }»ei's-in should turn hounds quietly, and not call after them in a noisy, 

 disagreeable mannci-. When hounds arc going to the cry, they should 



