huntsman's keknel duties. 41 



man, as well as the feeder. Your huntsman 

 must always attend the feeding of the hounds, 

 which should be drafted according to the con- 

 dition they are in. In all packs, some hounds 

 will feed better than others ; some there are 

 that will do with less meat ; and it requires a 

 nice eye, and great attention, to keep them all 

 in equal flesh : — it is what distinguishes a good 

 kennel-huntsman, and has its merit. It is sel- 

 dom, I think, that huntsmen give this particular 

 all the attention it deserves : they feed their 

 hounds in too great a hurry ; and not often, I 

 believe, take the trouble of casting their eye over 

 them before they begin : and yet, to distinguish, 

 with any nicety, the order a pack of hounds are 

 in, and the different degrees of it, is surely no 

 easy task; and, to be done well, requires no 

 small degree of circumspection ; you had better 

 not expect your huntsman to be very exact ; 

 where precision is required, he will most pro- 

 bably fail. 



When I am present myself, I make several 

 drafts. When my huntsman feeds them, he calls 

 them all over by their names, letting in each 

 hound as he is called : it has its use, — it uses 

 them to their names, and teaches them to be 

 obedient. Were it not for this, I should dis- 



