THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 75 



pulled down and killed. I mention this to fhew 

 you what caution is neceflary whillt hounds are 

 idle ; for though the fall of the horfe was not to 

 be attributed to any fault of the man, yet had 

 the old hounds been taken out by themfelves, or 

 had all the young ones been in couples, it is pro - 

 bable fo common an accident would not have 

 produced fo extraordinary an eiTedl. 



It is now time to floop them to a fcent. — You 

 had better enter them at their own game — it will 

 fave you much trouble afterwards. Many dogs, 

 I believe, like that fcent bell which they were 

 firil blooded to ; but be that as it may, it is cer- 

 tainly moft reafonable to ufe them to that which 

 it is intended they Ihould hunt. It may not be 

 amifs, when they iirfi; begin to hunt, to put light 

 collars on them. Young hounds may ealily get 

 out of their knowledge ; and thy ones, after they 

 have been much beaten, may not chufe to return 

 home. Collars, in that cafe, may prevent their 

 being loft. 



You fliy, you fhould not like to fee your young 

 hounds run a trail-fcent. I have no doubt that 

 you would be glad to fee them run over an open 

 down, where you could fo eafily obferve their 

 action and their fpeed. I cannot think the doing 

 of it once or twice could hurt your hounds ; and 

 and yet as a fportfman, I dare not recommend it 



to 



