76 SECOND DIVISION OF THE 



quarrels. When these do occur, the feeder hears, and sometimes, but not 

 so frequently as he ought, endeavours to discover the cause of the disturb- 

 ance, and visits the culprits with deserved punishment ; too often, how- 

 ever, he does not give himself time for this, but rushes among them, and 

 flogs every hound that he can get at, guilty or not guilty. This is a 

 shameful method of procedure. It is the cause of much undeserved punish- 

 ment : it spoils the temper of the dog, and makes him careless and indif- 

 ferent as long as he lives. 



Mr. Beckford very properly remarks, that " Young hounds are, and 

 must be awkward at first, and should be taken out, a few at a time, with 

 couples not too loose. They are thus accustomed to the usual occurrences 

 of the road, and this is most easily accomplished when a young and an old 

 dog are coupled together." 



A sheep-field is the next object, and the young hound, properly watched, 

 soon becomes reconciled, and goes quietly along with the companion of 

 the preceding day. A few days afterwards the dogs are uncoupled in the 

 field, and perhaps, at first, are not a little disposed to attack the sheep ; but 

 the cry of "Ware sheep!" in a stern tone of voice, arrests them, and 

 often, without the aid of the whip ; it being taken as a principle that this 

 instrument should be used as seldom as possible. If, indeed, the dog is 

 self-willed, the whip must be had recourse to, and perhaps with some 

 severity ; for, if he is once suffered to taste the blood of the sheep it may be 

 difficult to restrain him afterwards. A nobleman was told that it was pos- 

 sible to break his dogs of the habit of attacking his sheep, by introducing 

 a large and fearless ram among them ; one was accordingly procured and 

 turned into the kennel. The men with their whips and voices, and the 

 ram with his horns, soon threw the whole kennel into confusion. The 

 hounds and the ram were left together. Meeting a friend soon afterwards, 

 " Come," said he, " to the kennel, arid see what rare sport the ram is 

 making among the hounds." His friend asked whether he was not afraid 

 that some of them might be spoiled. " No," said he ; " they deserve it, 

 and let them suffer." They proceeded to the kennel ; all was quiet. The 

 kennel-door was thrown open, and the remains of the ram were found scat- 

 tered about : the hounds, having filled their bellies, had retired to rest. 



The time of entering young hounds must vary in different countries. 

 In a corn country, it should not be until the wheat is carried ; in grass 

 countries, somewhat sooner ; and, in woodlands, as soon as we please. Fre- 

 quent hallooing may be of use with young hounds ; it makes them more 

 eager ; but, generally speaking, there is a time when it may be of use, a 

 time when it does harm, and a time when it is perfectly indifferent. 



The following remarks of Mr. Beckford are worthy of their author : 

 " Hounds at their first entering cannot be encouraged too much. When 

 they begin to know what is right, it will be soon enough to chastise them 

 for doing wrong, and, in such case, one rather severe beating will save a 

 great deal of trouble. The voice should be used as well as the whip ; and 

 the smack of the whip will often be of as much avail as the lash to him 

 who has felt it." 



Flogging hounds in the kennel, the frequent practice of too many hunts- 

 men, should be held in utter abhorrence, and, if carried to a considerable 

 excess, is a disgrace to humanity. Generally speaking, none but the sports- 

 man can form an adequate conception of the perfect obedience of the hound 

 both in the kennel and the field. At feeding-time, each dog, although 



