64 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING, 



over the back, or any more quarrclfomc than tli« 

 reft, it will be of ulc to cut them : I alfo fpay 

 fuch bitches as I think I fhall not want to breed 

 from ; they are more ufefuT, are ftouter, and are 

 always in better order : bclides, it is abfolutely 

 neceflary if you hunt late in the fpring ; or your 

 pack will be very fhort for want of it. It may 

 be right to tell you, that the latter operation 

 does not always fuccecd, it will be necefTary, 

 therefore, to employ a flcilful perfon, and one on 

 whom you can depend; for if it be ill done, 

 though they cannot have puppies, they will go to 

 heat notwithfianding, of which I have known 

 many inllances, and that, I apprehend, v/ould 

 not anfwer your purpofe at any rate* They fhould 

 be kept low for feveral days before the operation 

 is performed, and mull be fed on thin meat for 

 fome time after. 



You afk me what number of young hounds 

 you fhould breed to keep up your ftock ? it is a 

 queftion, I believe, no man can anfwer. It de- 

 pends altogether on contingencies. The defici- 

 encies of one year muft be fupplicd the next. I 

 fhould apprehend from thirty to thirty- five couple 



before they are put out ; it might be better, perhaps, to leave' 

 it till thev are taken in. Dogs nuifl not be rounded at the time 

 they have the diflemper upon them ; the lofs of blood would 

 weaken them too much. 



Pf 



