5 o FOX-HUNTING 



with an assistant to whip in. Take care the 

 couples are fastened sufficiently tight to prevent 

 them slipping their heads out, as if once they get 

 away you may have difficulty in catching them 

 again. Now is the time the breeder begins to 

 see the fruits of his labours, and he will watch 

 with interest each fresh batch as it comes from 

 walk. It will depend on the number that come 

 in how many you will be able to draft, but get 

 rid of anything very crooked or misshapen at 

 once. Hounds generally come in from walk 

 either loaded with fat or miserably thin, and in 

 either case it is impossible to know what they will 

 look like eventually. It is therefore not advisable 

 to draft very close until May, when you will have 

 had time to get them in shape. 



I have been led into details which I had no 

 intention of touching on in this volume, but the 

 wellbeing of the hound is such an important 

 factor in hunting that I think you will forgive 

 me if I have exceeded the space allotted to the 

 subject. I shall not attempt here a list of hounds' 

 diseases or their treatment, but shall refer you to 

 the numerous books which have been written on 

 the subject. I would have you bear in mind the 



