NECESSARY TO BE KEPT. 35 



When packs are very large, the hounds are 

 seldom sufficiently hunted to be good. Few 

 people choose to hunt every day; and if they did, 

 it is not likely the weather in winter would give 

 them leave. You would always be obliged, 

 therefore, either to take out a very large pack, 

 or a great number of hounds must be left behind : 

 in the first case, too many hounds in the field 

 would probably spoil your sport ; in the second, 

 hounds that remain for any time without work 

 always get out of wind, and oftentimes become 

 riotous. About forty couple, I think, will best 

 answer your purpose. Forty couple of hunting 

 hounds will enable you to hunt three, or even 

 four times a-week ; and I will venture to say, 

 will kill more foxes than a greater number. 

 Hounds, to be good, must be kept constantly 

 hunted ; and if I should hereafter say a fox- 

 hound should be above his work, it will not be 

 a young fox-hound I shall mean, for I think 

 they should seldom be left at home as long as 

 they are able to hunt : the old and lame, and 

 such as are low in flesh, you should leave ; and 

 such as you are sure idleness cannot spoil. 



It is a great fault to keep too many old 

 hounds : if you choose your hounds should run 

 well together, you should not keep any longer 



