NOTITIA VENATICA. 99 



occurred at mine own keuuel, I must record as an instance of tlic awful 

 state of neglect to which some gentlemen's hunting educations have 

 been exjiosed. A young master of hounds (though no houndsman) who 

 lived within a hundred miles of my kennel in Warwickshire, did my 

 pack the honour of a visit in the spring, and of passing judgment on 

 their merits and demerits. As a matter of course, a M.F.H. being 

 present, the puppies were drawn and shoAvn first, when, on one pre- 

 senting himself of rather a solemn aspect and counsellor-like visage (in 

 kennel language termed " sour about the head "), my unfortunate 

 visitor — for I really consider it as one of the most melancholy cases of 

 barbarism on record — giving the puppy a tap with his stick, inquired — 

 " How many seasons has this old Solon-like fellow been at work?" 

 Observe, most attentive reader ! his ears had not been even chopped off ; 

 and now you may, I think, be allowed to ask which were the longest, 

 those belonging to the hound or his admirer. I can only add that, aftci 

 such an expose, the whole lot were shown out en masse. 



Where hounds are to hunt foiu* or five days a week, sixteen or seven- 

 teen couples shoidd be entered ; Avherc the number of hunting days is 

 only twice a week, or five times a fortnight, seven or eight couples will 

 be quite as many as will be required. If there are not sufficient good 

 Avalks in a country to make it worth while to attempt breeding, at any 

 rate during the first two or three years after commencing the formation 

 of a pack, the more advisable plan for renewing the defalcations of the 

 past year will be to procure the young drafts of some other well known 

 and accredited establishment, engaging invariably both first and second 

 drafts, from one year to another, and not to hazard the chance of jiick- 

 ing up young hounds from various difierent kennels ; by this means it 

 will be far easier to obtain a pack of the same stamp and character, a 

 very material point to be looked to by any one wishing to excel. How 

 frequent a thing it is to meet with a i)ack, in high estimation too, which, 

 when viewed as a body, appear to have been purposely selected from 

 every kennel in the universe ; although, if each individual is drawn out 

 separately, no particular fault can be discovered in him. The main 

 points in their symmetry, when examined by themselves, may be all 

 sti'ikiugly good ; but when a few couples are mixed together, their 

 style, countenances, and general character vary so exceedingly, that they 

 are immediately obvious to any one who is a close observer of such mat- 

 ters. Appearances are certainly much more considered than they used 

 to be in former days, and in many instances, I fear, before other qua- 

 lifications of greater consequence ; still, in the days of Somerville, 

 equahty of size and similarity in character were looked upon as essen- 

 tially necessary in the selection of a pack, which is beautifully expressed 

 in the following lines : — 



" As some brave captain, curious and exact, 

 By his fix'd standard forms in equal ranks 

 His gay battalion ; as one man they move 

 Step after step, their size the same, their arms 

 Far gleaming dart the same united blaze ; 

 Reviewing generals his merit own ; 



