98 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



diest hounds, which are kept with the young hounds in a 

 separate kennel, and are hunted with them all the first part 

 of the season. This, when the old hounds begin to hunt, 

 makes two distinift packs, and is always attended with 

 great trouble and inconvenience. Nothing hurts a pack so 

 much, as to enter many young hounds ; since it must be 

 considerably weakened, by being robbed of those which are 

 the most steady ; and yet young hounds can do nothing 

 without their assistance. Such, therefore, as constantly 

 enter their young hounds in this manner, will, sometimes a^ 

 least, have two indifferent packs, instead of one good one. 



In the other method, the young hounds are well awed 

 from sheep, but never stooped to a scent till they are 

 taken out with the pack : they are then taken out, a few 

 only at a time ; and, if your pack be perfedly steady, and 

 Vi'ell manned, may not give you much trouble. The me- 

 thod I first mentioned, is that which I most comrnoniy prac- 

 tise, being most suitable to the number of young hounds 

 that I usually enter — nine or ten couple : if you have fewer, 

 the last will be most convenient. The one which requires 

 two distinft packs, is on too extensive a plan to suit your 



