234 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



ijhould be at large for houi's in the day without a man, for this 

 reason : they have great intelligence, and are not mere machines 

 like fox-hounds. They soon learn by themselves what to avoid, 

 and will act accordingly. I hunted a drag always with mine — a 

 small piece of raw meat, the fresher the better, about one pound 

 weight. A man took it on foot, and I gave from two hours to 

 four hours' start if for horsemen ; two hours if for mere exercise, of 

 which they require a great deal ; four hours, sometimes six hours. 

 The man should go about five miles and put the drag in a tree. 

 Nothing is to be put in the meat on any account. They will 

 not be diiven or stand cracking a whip, get sulky or cross ; they 

 must be let alone, and the slower they go the more beautiful the 

 hunting. In breeding, I found that the narrower the head — a 

 high point in show-dogs — the worse hind quarter, no second 

 thighs, and consequently they were unable to last for quick 

 work. That and fiat feet are the drawbacks. The sooner they 

 are let hunt the better. At three months old I used to begin ; 

 they never seem to care so much for any scent as what they 

 were first entered at. They require a large kennel, as when 

 they fight there is much harm done, and they do not cool down 



for some time. One which had been petted by Lady W 



was put back into the kennels, and the others killed him at 

 once ; but they are in general quiet. I don't think they are 

 always to be left to servants ; they can pick up bad habits like 

 other people : but to a master they are delightful, so affectionate 

 and obedient. They must have a gallop of some kind tlirice a 

 week, or they get puffy, for you must not let them get low or 

 shorten their food. They should be above themselves, or they 

 get tired ; plenty of flesh, often given, raw, and large lumps at a 

 time. The chewing promotes digestion. In work they do not 

 caste like other hounds ; each hound goes alone, and never 

 watches for another dog ; in fact, they never take their nose 

 off the ground, and only one deer was killed by them in 

 Dorsetshire. Even when in the same field, they never get a 

 view ) so aU the deer have been saved without difficulty. A 



