158 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



of the rest to the killing of the fox by invariably lying in the centre of 

 the pack and holding the body together, as with their free and melodious 

 tliroats they call the stragglers continually to the line in chase, and 

 cause numbers Avho Avould otherwise fly too much to keep in their places 

 and run together, as a pack invariably must do who arc to kill their fox 

 in good and acknowledged style. 



If the distances are very long to cover, it is sometimes necessary for 

 the hounds and horses to be taken on over night ; but to some gentle- 

 men, who may keep what is termed a three-day pack, this may be very in- 

 convenient, as, having only one body to draw from, by sending them to 

 he out, many of the lioimds will very frequently not get even one clear 

 day's rest between the hunting days. This difficulty may be remedied by 

 having them conveyed, on the morning of hunting, in a carriage built 

 like a caravan, Avith a large dickey in front capable of containing three 

 persons abreast, with a small boot underneath to hold cajjs, whips, 

 great coats, or anything else which it may be necessary to convey in it. 

 I believe Lord Southampton, when that nobleman hunted Leicestershire, 

 was the first sj)ortsman who introduced this method of conveying the 

 pack to cover, which has since been adopted by other masters of hounds. 

 It is undoubtedly economical in the end, in the wear and tear of hounds, 

 as by thus saving them so many miles of road-work in bad weather they 

 will be enabled to undergo an additional day's labour in each fortnight, 

 or even oftener. Where the utmost distance to the place of meeting 

 does not exceed eleven or tAvelve miles, it is of little consequence ; but 

 the constant habit of travelling hounds a long way to cover in a morn- 

 ing, and dragging them home in the dark for upwards of twenty miles, 

 cuts them up, and jades them infinitely more than most persons arc 

 aware of. 



A huntsman should take especial care never to let his hounds lie 

 down, even for an instant, upon the cold ground, particularly on their 

 return from hunting ; if it is very late, and necessary to call at any inn 

 or place for gruel for the horses, the more advisable plan is, if the dis- 

 tance from the kennel is very great, and the hounds have had a hard 

 day, to shut them up in a clean stable or barn for five or ten minutes, 

 and to buy five or six large loaves of stale bread, which may be cut into 

 pieces and distributed amongst them as equally as possible. When the 

 horses have finished their gruel, a very small quantity of scalded meal 

 and milk, just sufficient for each hound to take six or seven laps, should 

 be mixed in several different pails, at certain distances in the yard ; and 

 when the men are mounted the hounds may be let out. By having 

 it mixed in several pails, they will be all more likely to come in for a 

 share. The good effects of this slender rejiast will be not only evident 

 by the curling of their sterns, and the high spirits Avith which they will 

 travel homewards, but their freshness on the following morning •will be 

 considerably promoted by it. 



" How long do you intend hunting ?" is a question perpetually put to 

 a master of hoimds. The best answer to give is — " As long as the 

 peas and beans Avill alloAV us." From the difference of the nature of 

 the soil, and the grain grown thereon, some countries are better calcii- 



