66 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



Young hounds are commonly named whenjirst put out, 

 and sometimes, indeed, ridiculously enough ; nor is it easy, 

 when you breed many, to find suitable or harmonious names 

 for all ; particularly as it is usual to name all the whelps of 

 one litter with the same letter, which (to be systematically 

 done) should also be the initial letter of the dog that got 

 them, or the bitch that bred them. A baronet of my ac- 

 quaintance, a literal observer of the above rule, sent three 

 young hounds of one.litter to a friend, all their names be- 

 ginning, as be said, with the letter G : Gowler, Govial, and 

 Galloper » 



It is, indeed, of little consequence what huntsmen call 

 their hounds ; yet, if you dislike an unmeaning name, 

 would it not be as well to leave the naming of them till 

 they are brought home ? They soon learn their names, 

 and a shorter list would do. Damons and Delias would 

 not then be necessary ; nor need the sacred names of 

 Titus and Trajan be thus degraded. It is true, there are 

 many odd names which custom authorises ; yet 1 cannot 

 think, because some drunken fellow or other has christ- 

 'l?ned his d^og Tipler, or Tapster, that there is the least 

 leason to follow the cxapiple. Pipers and Fiddlers, fot 



