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THE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



permitted to come calmly and unexpectedly upon the scent, they then go away with it in 

 a style of uniformity, constituting what may be candidly considered the consistency of 

 the chase. 



" Much noise and clamour are directly contrary to the systematic principles of hare-hunting, 

 which is to be calm, perfectly quiet, and to let the hounds alone ; few hounds are so good, 

 none better, than many town packs who have no professed huntsman engaged to hunt 

 them. If they have no one to assist them, it must, at the same time, be remembered they 

 have no one to interrupt them, which in this kind of hunting is still more material ; though 



MR. CHURCHILL LANGDON's HARRIER, "COUNTESS." 



there is one fault such hounds must of necessity be guilty of, that is, running back to 

 heel. Hounds are naturally fond on scent, and if they are foiled and disappointed in 

 carrying it forward, they of course turn and endeavour to hunt it back : hounds left to 

 themselves soon repeat this to a fault, and, it is to be observed, almost the only one 

 they have. 



" Although it is upon the broad scale of universality certainly best to let the hounds 

 alone, thereby giving as much scope as possible to their natural instinct, yet in this par- 

 ticular instance it is necessary to check it mildly ; for as it is an almost invariable rule in 

 every kind of hunting to make the head good, they should be encouraged to try forward 

 first ; which may always be done without taking them off their noses, or the least prejudice 

 to their hunting. If trying forward should not succeed, they may be permitted to try 

 back, which they will at all times be ready enough to do ; for they are always perfectly 



