242 THOUGHTS UTON IIUNTlJJG. 



I have my doubts of the propriety of this pro- 

 ceeding : if hounds have not been well awed 

 from deer, it is not fit that they at any rate fhould 

 come among them ; but if hounds be tolerably 

 lleady, I had rather find a fox with them amongft 

 deer, than bring them afterwards into covers 

 where deer are. By drawing amongil them, they 

 in fome degree will be awed from the fcent, and 

 poffibly may fliek to the fox when he is found ; 

 but fhould unlleady hounds, when high on their 

 mettle, run into a cover where deer are in plenty, 

 there is no doubt, that the firil: check they come 

 to they v\^ill all tall off. I always have found 

 hounds moft inclined to riot when moft upon 

 their mettle ; fuch as are given to fiieep will then 

 kill fheep ; and fuch as are not quite licady from 

 deer v/ill then be moll; likely to break off after 

 them. When hounds are encouraged on a iccnt, 

 if they lofe tliat fcent, it is then an unfteady 

 hound is ready for any kind of mifchief. 



I have already fald, that a huntfrnan ought 

 never to flog a hound. Wiien a riotous hound, 

 confcious of his offence, may efeape from tlie 

 whipper-in, and fly to the huntfrnan, you v/ill 

 fee him put his whole pack into confufion by en- 

 deavourintr to chaflife him himfelf. This is the 

 height of abfurdity ! Inflead of flogging the hound 

 he ought to encourage him, who fhould always 

 have fome place to fly to for protc(flion. If the 



offciic 



