THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 85 



better enter them at their own game : it will save 

 you much trouble afterwards. Many dogs, 1 believe, 

 like that scent best which they were first blooded to; 

 but be that as it may, it is certainly most reason- 

 able to use them to that which it is intended ihey 

 should hunt. It may not be amiss, when they first 

 begin to hunt, to put light collars on them. Young 

 hounds may easily get out of their knowledge ; and shy 

 ones, after they have been much beaten, may not choose 

 to return home : collars, in that case, may prevent th9ir 

 being lost. 



You say, you should like to see your young hounds run 

 a trail-scent. I have no doubt that you would be glad 

 to see them run over an open down, where you could so 

 easily observe their a<flion and their speed. I cannot think 

 the doing of it once or twice could hurt your hounds j and 

 yet, as a sportsman, I dare not recommend it to you. All 

 that 1 shall say of it is, that it would be less bad than enter- 

 ing them at hare. A cat is as good a trail as any -, but on 

 no account should any trail be used after your hounds are 

 stooped to a scent. 



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