THE KENNEL. 131 



Of late years one or two masters have abandoned the 

 custom of rounding the puppies' ears. Most of the operations 

 which are performed on animals are equally stupid and cruel. 

 There was a time when even a hunter's ears were cropped, 

 thus giving the flies and gnats special facilities for tormenting 

 him. But rounding puppies is desirable, for the reason that 

 their long drooping ears would be continually torn and wounded 

 by thorns and briars in the thick undergrowth, into which the 

 foxhound has to force his way, as well as in the hedges, 

 through which he must also scramble. Many huntsmen are of 

 ^pinion that rounding has a good effect in certain cases of 

 distemper, though Beckford lays it down that ' dogs must not 

 be rounded all the time they have the distemper upon them ; 

 the loss of blood would weaken them too much.' 



At Badminton the young hounds are taken out in their 

 couples among the deer in the park, and soon learn to take no 

 notice of them. Obedience is before all things necessary in 

 the kennel, and it is not only possible, but in the highest 

 degree desirable, to secure this by the voice. The whip 

 should be rather a symbol of authority than a weapon of 

 punishment. 



Of the perfect hound it is not easy to better Somerville's 

 description : 



See there, with countenance blythe, 

 And with a courtly grin, the fawning hound 

 Salutes them cow'ring ; his wide op'ning nose 

 Upwards he curls, and his large sloe-black eyes 

 Melt in soft blandishments and humble joy : 

 His glossy skin, or yellow pied, or blue, 

 In lights or shades, by Nature's pencil drawn, 

 Reflects the various tints : his ears and legs 

 Fleckt here and there in gay enamel'd pride, 

 Rival the speckled pard ; his rush-grown tail 

 O'er his broad back, bends in an ample arch, 

 On shoulders clean upright and firm he stands : 

 His round cat feet, straight hams, and widespread thighs 

 And his low drooping chest, confess his speed, 

 His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill 



K 2 



