146 BRIGADES, NOT PACKS. [CH. vm. 



do not, what can you expect but an unorganized mob ? 

 an undrilled set, perpetually running over each other's 

 ground, now scampering in this part, now crowded 

 in that, a few likely spots being hunted by all (espe- 

 cially if they are old dogs), the rest of the field by none 

 of them ; and to control whose unprofitable wanderings, 

 why not employ a regular huntsman and 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 cor- 

 rectness, take a true standard of excellence. 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 employed 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 him- 

 self ; I only wish him, whatever he does, to strive to do 

 *t correctly. 



249. 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. 



250. The late Major B d, of B d, in Lancashire, had this 



fancy. The moors over which he shot were by no means well 

 stocked with game ; but the wonderful control he obtained over 

 his pointers showed, in the strongest manner, the high grade of 

 education that can be imparted to dogs by gentle and judicious 

 treatment. 



251. He was accustomed to hunt three brace at a time. Each 

 dog when he was ranging would take up his separate ground, with- 



