THOUGPITS UPON HUNTING. 6t 



It is the judicious cross that makes the pack complete*. The 

 faults and imperfedions in one breed may be reilified from 

 another ; and, if this be properly attended to, I see no rea* 

 son why the breeding of hounds may not improve till im- 

 provement can go no further. If you find a cross hit, 

 pursue it-}-. Never put an old dog to an old bitch.. Be 

 careful that they be- healthy which you breed from, or you 

 are not likely to have a healthy offspring. Should a favou- 

 rite dog skirt a little, put him to a thorough line-hunting 

 bitch, and such a cross may succeed. My objedion to the 

 breeding from such a hound is, that, as skirting is what 

 most fox-hounds acquire from pradice, it had better not 

 be made natural to them. A very famous sportsman has 

 told me, that he frequently breeds from brothers and 

 sisters. As I should be very unwilling to urge any thing 



* I have seen fox-Iiounds that were bred out of a Newfoundland bitch 

 and a fox-hound dog. They are monstrously ugly, are said to give their 

 tongues sparingly, and to tire soon. The experiment has not succeeded : 

 the cross most likely to be of service to a fox-hound, is the beagle. I ani 

 well convinced, that a handsome, bony, tender-nosed, stout beagle, would, 

 occaiionally, be no improper cross for a high-bred pack of fox-hounds. 



+ After the first season, I breed from all my young dog.hounds who 

 have beauty and goodness to recommend them, to see what v/helps they 



K Z 



