FIRST LESSON IN AUTUMN CONTINUED. 563 



a well-mounted whip ? Doubtless it would be absurd to 

 hope for perfect accuracy in so difficult a matter as a 

 systematic range in a brigade of dogs ; but that you 

 may approach correctness, take a true standard of excel- 

 lence. If you do not keep perfection in view, you will 

 never attain to more than mediocrity. I earnestly hope, 

 however, that it cannot be your wish to take out a host 

 of dogs but should you have such a singular hobby, 

 pray let them be regularly brigaded, and not ernploye'd 

 as a pack. In my opinion, under no circumstances can 

 more than relays of leashes be desirable ; but I should 

 be sorry in such matters to dispute any man's right to 

 please himself; I only wish him, whatever he does, tc 

 strive to do it correctly. 



169. Some men who shoot on a grand scale make 

 their keepers hunt each a distinct brace of dogs, the 

 gun going up to whatever dog points. It is the most 

 killing plan to adopt ; but that is not the matter we 

 were considering. The question was, what method a 

 man ought to pursue who had a fancy to himself hunt 

 many dogs at a time. 



170. If a professional breaker could show you a bri- 

 gade of dogs well trained to quarter their ground sys- 

 tematically, and should ask from fifty to sixty guineas* 

 a brace for them, you ought not to be surprised. What 



* 250 to 300 dollars. This would be by no means an extraor- 

 dinary price here, however extraordinary it might be to see dogs so 

 qualified. H. W. II. 



