NOTITIA VENATICA. 51 



tism, or shoiildcr lameness, moio than allowing them to lie on the cold 

 ground in the shade, particularly after work or exercise ; besides, it is 

 the means of maldng servants slack in taking them out to horse exer- 

 cise, of which they ought to have at least four hours' work every morn- 

 ing early, during the summer months. The only use a large grass- 

 court can be of is, in my opinion, for the puppies to air themselves at 

 their will, when they come up from their quarters, and which should be 

 kej)t exclusively for them. 



The young hounds' kennel should be as far from the other hounds' 

 lodging-rooms as the arrangement of the structure will allow ; and at 

 the furthest end of the grass-court should be an hospital for such puppies 

 as may be distempered, so contrived as to be remote from the other 

 lodging-rooms, but at the same time within an easy distance of the boil- 

 ing-house, whence, by an outside door, the feeder can constantly pass 

 to attend to the sick hounds, without disturbing the healthy lots. This 

 lodging-house should be so contrived as to be warmed by the chimney 

 of the boiling-house ; but it must at the same time be well ventilated by 

 two windows, to which shutters must be attached. 



If hounds are to be walked out, either for inspection or for exercise 

 after feeding, or on rest days, they should be taken into the paddock, 

 which should be also kept entirely for that purpose. If horses are 

 turned in, their dung is always in the way, as most hounds will, even 

 directly after feeding, ramble about to pick it up. The size of a grass- 

 court to the puppies' kennel need not be more than a hundred yards 

 square, in a very airy situation. The paddock for moving the old hounds 

 into should be three or four acres at least. 



As we are now upon the subject of their eating excrement, and other 

 filth, it may not be considered an improper time to mention the ten- 

 dency that some of them have to fill themselves with the dung of not 

 only the others, but also to devour their own ordure. Those which are 

 in the habit of eating the filth in the courts may always be known by 

 their bad condition, and by their being more or les,s dropped in their 

 bodies. The number of hounds whi/3h are rendered useless by this filthy 

 practice alone is incredible ; a huntsman should always take the pre- 

 caution of shutting up by themselves on the night previous to hunting- 

 such as are in the habit of thus fiUing themselves, and also of jjutting 

 muzzles on them to prevent them eating their own ordure. It is jDOsi- 

 tively necessary to shut up such as have acquired this dirty practice by 

 themselves ; for if the others do not worry them (being unable to defend 

 themselves) in the night, they will without fail gnaw oft" their muzzles 

 for mere mischief. I woidd recommend some small places, large enough 

 to contain one or a couple of hounds, to be built about a kennel ; they 

 are always useful for the sick and the lame, or for early whelps ; they 

 should be well sheltered and warm. 



1 have visited above half the kennels occupied by foxhounds through- 

 out Great Britain, and convenient and replete with comforts as many of 

 them are, I never yet saw one in which my fancy, or rather my experi- 

 ence, did not lead me to suppose that many alterations, beneficial to the 

 convenience and economy of the place, might be effected, without 



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