UNSTEADY HOUXDS. 247 



and if you should be in want of blood at last, 

 you will then know where to get it. 



It is usual, Avhen people are not certain of 

 the steadiness of their hounds from deer, to find 

 a fox in an adjacent cover, that they may be on 

 their right scent when they come where deer 

 are. I have my doubts of the propriety of this 

 proceeding. If hounds have not been well awed 

 from deer, it is not fit they at any rate should 

 come among them ; but if hounds are tolerably 

 steady, I had rather find a fox with them 

 amongst deer, than bring them afterwards into 

 covers where deer are. By drawing amongst 

 them, they in some degree will be awed from 

 the scent, and possibly may stick to the fox 

 when once he is found ; but should unsteady 

 hounds, when high on their mettle, run into a 

 cover where deer are in plenty, there is no doubt 

 that, the first check they come to, they will all 

 fall off. I always have found hounds most in- 

 clined to riot when most upon their mettle : 

 such as are given to sheep, will then kill sheep ; 

 and such as are not quite steady from deer, will 

 then be most likely to break off after them. 

 When hounds are encouraged on a scent, if they 

 lose that scent, it is then an unsteady hound is 

 ready for any kind of mischief. 



