DUTIES OF HUNTSMEN. 267 



3'our hounds hanging across a hedge, grinning 

 at each other : yet it is an accident that often 

 has happened ; and it is an accident so likely 

 to happen, that I am surprised any man of 

 common sense will run the risk of it. If ne- 

 cessary, I had much rather they should be held 

 in couples at the cover side till the fox is found. 



The two principal things which a huntsman 

 has to attend to, are the keeping of his hounds 

 healthy and steady. The first is attained by 

 cleanliness and proper food ; the latter, by put- 

 ting as seldom as possible any unsteady ones 

 amongst them. 



When a fox is lost, the huntsman, on his 

 return home, should examine himself, and en- 

 deavour to find in what he might have done 

 better ; he may by this means make the very 

 losing of a fox of use to him. 



Old tieing hounds, and a hare-hunter turned 

 fox-hunter, are both as contrary to the true 

 spirit of fox-hunting as any thing can possibly 

 be. One is continually bringing the pack back 

 again ; the other as constantly does his best 

 to prevent them from getting forward. The 

 natural prejudices of mankind are such, that 

 a man seldom alters his style of hunting, let 

 him pursue what game he may ; besides, it may 

 N 2 



