SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 39 



every master will put forward several couples more 

 than are required for the entry. In a two and 

 occasional three day per week country, ten couples 

 will be necessary, and a third more should be kept, 

 and so in proportion to the magnitude of the 

 establishment. 



Seasons vary very much, some being more favour- 

 able to the growth of foxhound whelps as well as 

 other animals ; it is therefore advisable, when such 

 occur, to avail ourselves of the opportunity by 

 selecting as many young hounds as can be reason- 

 ably maintained, lest, a bad season following, the 

 neKt year's entry prove deficient in quantity as 

 well as quality. There is no more pleasing sight 

 to a master's eye than a clever lot of young- 

 puppies just sent in from their walks ; and certainly 

 he has reason to be proud of his success, coupled 

 with good luck, in his having so many returned to 

 the kennel. Then comes the examination day, 

 when a few select friends are invited genuine 

 foxhunters, who know every old hound in the pack, 

 and observe their work in the field to pass their 

 opinions on the points of merit in the young ones. 

 To the great majority of hunting men a day on the 

 flags presents as many attractions as an old lady's 

 tea-party a dull, stupid affair, with a deal of 

 gossip about pedigrees and proportions of hounds, 

 in which they have no desire to take part. Few 

 there are very, very few who take the well- 

 being of the pack into consideration. 



In choosing young hounds for the entry, we 

 are not groping in the dark, as when they were 



