2,30 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



fhat of the first whipper-in (where you have two) be noti 

 I cannot but think genius may be at least as useful in one 

 as in the other : for instance, while the huntsman is riding 

 to his headmost hounds, the whipper-in, if he have ge- 

 nius, may shew it in various ways : he may clap forward 

 to any great earth that may, by chance, be open ; he 

 may sink the wind to halloo, or mob a fox, when the 

 scent fails; he may keep him off his foil; he may stop the 

 tail hounds, and get -them forward ; and has it frequently 

 in his power to assist the hounds, without doing them any 

 hurt, provided he should have sense to distinguish where he 

 may be chiefly wanted. Besides, the most essential part of 

 fox-hunting, the making and keeping the pack steady, de- 

 pends entirely upon him ; as a huntsman should seldom 

 rate, and never flog, a hound. In short, I consider the 

 first whipper-in as a second huntsman j and, to be perfedl, 

 he should be not less capable of hunting the hounds than 

 the huntsman himself. 



You cannot too much recommend to your whipper-in 

 to get to the head of his hounds before he attempts to 

 stop them. The rateing behind is to little purpose, and, if 

 they should be in cover, may prevent him from knowing 



