34- THOUGHTS Ul^ON HUNTINC5. 



twenty to thirty couple, are as many, I think, aS 

 you lliould ever take hito the field. The pro- 

 priety of any number muft depend upon the 

 ilrength of your pack, and the country in which 

 you are to hunt : the quantity of hounds necef- 

 lary to furnifh that number for a whole feafon, 

 muft alfo depend on the country where you hunt; 

 as fome countries lame hounds more than others. 

 The taking out too many hounds, Mr. Somervilc 

 very properly calls a7i iifehfs incimib ranee. It is 

 not lo material what the number is, as it is that 

 all your hounds fhould l>e fteady, and as nearly 

 as poflible of equal fpeed. 



When packs are very large, the hounds arc fcl- 

 dom fufficiently hunted to be good. Few people 

 choofe to hunt every day ; and if t|,icy did, it is 

 Z30t likely the weather in winter would give tliem 

 leave. You would always be obliged therefore, 

 either to take out a very large pack, or a great num- 

 ber of hounds muft be left behind : in the firil 

 cafe, too many hounds in the field would pro- 

 bably fpoil your fport ; in the Ibcond, hounds that 

 remain long without work, always get out of wind, 

 and oftentimes become rix)tous. About forty 

 couple, I think, will befl anfwer your purpofe. 

 Forty couple of hunting hounds will enable you 

 to hunt three, or even four times in a week ; and 

 I will venture to fay, will kill more foxes than ta, 



greater 



