«46 THOUGHrS irpON HUNTING, 



be very exafl : where precision is required, he will tnasi 

 probably fail. 



When I am present myself, I make several drafts. 

 When my huntsman feeds them, he calls them all over 

 by their names, letting in each hound as he is called : it 

 has its use ; it uses them to their names, and teaches them, 

 to be obedient. Were it not for this, I should disapprove 

 of it entirely ; since it certainly requires more coolness 

 and deliberation to distinguish with precision which are 

 best entitled to precedence, than this method of feeding 

 will admit of; and unless flesh be in great plenty, those 

 that are called in last may not have a taste of it. To 

 prevent this inconvenience, such as are low in flesh had 

 better be all drafted off into a separate kennel * ; by this 

 means, the hounds that require Jlesh will all have a share 

 of it. If any be much poorer than the rest, they should 



• By thus separating from the rest such as are poor, you will proceed 

 to the feeding of your hounds with more accuracy and less trouble ; and 

 though they be at first drafted off in the manner above described, it is 

 still meant that they should be let in to feed, one by one, as they answer 

 to their names j or else, as it will frequently happen, they may be better 

 fed than taught. 



