BREEDING. 21 



is a bad plan to allow them much straw, as when the 

 litter is too abundant, particularly when long, it is apt 

 to get twisted round the necks of the puppies, and 

 strangle them. Where wet nurses are used, they should 

 be of the same period, as the milk of bitches cannot 

 be made to endure like that of cows and some other 

 animals. Three are quite sufficient for a mother to 

 suckle, that is a moderate nurse, but a good stout 

 bitch, with abundance of milk, will occasionally bring 

 up as many as seven, Mr. Asheton Smith had a 

 hound some years ago, named Governess, which was 

 as famous for rearing puppies, as she was excellent in 

 the field, and during the spring and summer of 1831, 

 produced and reared two litters, amounting to fourteen, 

 which did well, and Avent to quarters ; the first litter 

 were by that famous hound Watchman, the second 

 by Mr. A. Smith's Barrister ; a circumstance worthy 

 to be recorded in the annals of breeding hounds. 

 The usual practice of turning out the bitches which 

 are in whelp for about three weeks to run at large, is 

 certainly an excellent system, but nevertheless there 

 are circumstances connected with it, that are a great 

 draw back, unless properly guarded against, one in 

 particular, of their gorging themselves with flesh where 

 they can get at it, which produces surfeit, after having 

 lived on the mixed kennel food ; therefore the flesh- 

 gibbet should be enclosed in a small boarded yard 

 made on purpose. It is an excellent system which 

 is pursued in some establishments, to keep one or 

 two cows for the exclusive use of the puppies ; 

 moreover the huntsman is generally allowed the keep 

 of one for his own family. At Brocklesby (the Earl 



