THE HOUND 55 



should be allowed in a second time, and the feeder 

 or huntsman must know exactly the moment 

 when each hound has had enough. If you want 

 your pack to be level in condition, great care 

 and trouble must be bestowed on this part of 

 the business. The day before hunting, feed early, 

 and do not allow the thin ones to have a lap 

 before they go out, as some people advise. If 

 you have a hound a little too fine, give him a 

 rest or send him home after half a day ; but if 

 you adopt my suggestions about summer work 

 you will never have any that are not able to 

 stand the longest day. 



If you are a good sportsman you will not be 

 cruel, but the necessary punishment of a hound is 

 not cruelty. Your pack must be obedient if you 

 wish them to show sport. I very much dislike 

 to see a whipper-in continually hitting hounds for 

 only trivial offences, and it is the duty of the 

 huntsman to see that his charges are not abused. 

 If a hound will not do what he is told, he must 

 feel the lash and should be rated afterwards as 

 well, but always approximate the punishment to 

 the offence. In the case of any serious sin, 

 such as sheep -running and hunting hares or 



