^6 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



a nick) he had found to fucceed very well, but 

 no nearer : as I have neither tried one nor the 

 other, I cannot fpeak with any certainty about 

 them. 



Give particular orders to your feeder to watch 

 over the bitches with a cautious eye, and lepa- 

 rate fuch as are going to be proud, before it be 

 too late. The advances they make frequently 

 portend mifchief as well as love; and, if not 

 prevented in time, will not fail to fet the whole 

 kennel together by the ears, and may occafion 

 the death of your befl dogs: care only can pre- 

 vent it.* 



" Mark well the wanton females of thy pack, 



That curl their taper tails, and frifking court 



Their pye-baid mates enamour'd ; their red eyes 



Flafh fires impure; nor reft, nor food they take, 



Goaded by furious love. In fep'rate cells 



Confine them now, left bloody civil wars 



Annoy thy peaceful ftate. " Somervile, 



I have known huntfmcn perfedlly ignorant of 

 the breed of their hounds, from inattention in 

 this particular ; and I have alfo known many 

 good dogs fall a facrijfice to it, 



* When the bitches are off their heat, they ftiould be fuf- 

 fered to run about the houfe a day or two before they are takeA 

 out to hunt, 



Th& 



