THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 63 



rhave known huntsmen perfeclly ignorant of the breed of 

 their hound?, from inattention in this particular; and I have 

 aJso known many good dogs fall r. sacrifice to it. 



The earlier in the year you breed, the better ; Januarys 

 February, and March, are the best months. Late pup- 

 pies seldom thrive ; if you have any such, put them to 

 the best walks*. When the bitches begin to get big, let 

 them not hunt any more : it proves frequently fatal to the 

 puppies, sometimes to the bitch herself; nor is it safe for 

 them to remain much longer in the kennel. ]f one bitch 

 have many puppies, more than she can well rear, you may 

 put some of them to another bitch ; or, if you destroy any 

 of them, you may keep the best coloured. They some- 

 times will have an extraordinary number : I have known an 

 instance of one having fifteen ; and a friend of mine, whose 

 veracity 1 cannot doubt, has assured me that a hound in his 

 pack brought forth sixteen, all alive. When you breed 

 from a very favourite sort, and can have another bitch 

 warded at the same time, it will have this advantage, it 

 will enable you to save all the puppies. Give particular 



* Of the early whelps I keep five or six, of the late ones only two or 

 three. 



