SHUTTING UP HOUNDS BY THEMSELVES. 41 



which are rendered useless by this filthy practice 

 alone, is incredible; a huntsman should always take 

 the precaution of shutting up by themselves on the . 

 night previous to hunting, such as are in the habit 

 of thus filling themselves, and also of putting muzzles 

 on them to prevent them eating their own ordure. It 

 is positively necessary to shut up such as have ac- 

 quired this dirty practice by themselves, for if the 

 others do not worry them (being unable to defend 

 themselves) in the night, they will without fail gnaw 

 off their muzzles for mere mischief. I would recom- 

 mend some small places, large enough to contain one 

 or a couple of hounds, to be built about a kennel, 

 they are always useful for the sick, and the lame, or 

 for early whelps; they should be well sheltered and 

 warm. 



If I were to be enabled to build another kennel, I 

 would have it constructed upon such a plan, that I 

 could enter any one of the courts without interfering 

 with any other ; this might be easily effected by 

 having the great drawing court to run the whole 

 length of the other courts. I would also have two 

 courts attached to the feeding house for the sole pur- 

 pose of drawing the hounds while feeding. This plan 

 would be a great convenience, as not interfering with 

 hounds when at rest. Moreover, when hounds return 

 very late at night from hunting, and are put over into 

 one of the courts attached to the lodging rooms, after 

 feeding, they invariably cause the floor to be covered 

 with grease ; which if neglected to be washed off by a 

 careful feeder (and such persons cannot be trusted at 

 all times), will induce the hounds to be hunting and 



