152 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING, 



Though the Spe6lator makes us laugh at the 

 oddity of his friend, Sir Roger, for returning, a 

 hound, which he faid was an excellent hafs^ be- 

 caufe he wanted a counter-tenor ; yet 1 am of opi- 

 nion, that if we attended more to the variety of 

 notes frequently to be met with in the tongues of 

 hounds, it might greatly add to the harmony of 

 the pack. I do not know that a complete con* 

 cert could be attained, but it would be eafy to 

 prevent difcordant founds. 



Keep no hound that runsfalfe: the lofs of one 

 hare is more than fuch a dog is worth. 



It is but reafonable to give your hounds a hare 

 fometimes: I always gave mine the lall they 

 Jcilled, if I thought they deferved her. 



It is too much the cuflom, firfl: to ride over a, 

 dog, and then cry, ware horfe. Take care not 

 to ride over your hounds ; I have known many a 

 jgood dog fpoiled by it : in open ground caution 

 them firllj you priay afterwards ride oyer them, 

 if you pleafe; but in roads and paths they fre- 

 quently cannot get out of your way ; it furely, 

 then, is your butinefs either to flop your horfe 

 or break a way for them, and the not doing it, 

 give me leave to fay, is not lefs abfurd than cruel; 

 nor can that man be called a good fportfman who 

 thus wantonly deflroys his^ own fport. Indeed;, 



