216 ■ DUTY OF A WHIPPEll-IN. 



genius may be at least as useful in one as in the 

 other: for instance, while the huntsman is rid- 

 ing to his head hounds, the whipper-in, if he 

 has genius, may show it in various ways ; he 

 may clap forward to any great earth that may, 

 by chance, be open ; he may sink the wind to 

 halloo, or mob a fox, when the scent fails ; he 

 may keep him off his foil ; he may stop the tail 

 hounds, and get them forward ; and has it fre- 

 quently in his power to assist the hounds, with- 

 out doing them any hurt, provided he has sense 

 to distinguish where he is wanted most. Be- 

 sides, the most essential part of fox-hunting, the 

 making and keeping the pack steady, depends 

 entirely upon him ; as a huntsman should sel- 

 dom rate, and never flog a hound. In short, I 

 consider the first whipper-in as a second hunts- 

 man ; and, to be perfect, he should be as capa- 

 ble of hunting the hounds as the huntsman 

 himself. 



You cannot too much recommend to your 

 whipper-in to get to the head of his hounds 

 before he attempts to stop them. The rating 

 behind is to little purpose, and if they are in 

 cover, may prevent him from knowing who the 

 culprits are. When your hounds are ruiming a 

 fox, he then should content himself with stop- 



