THE PYTCHLEY HOUNDS. 121 



they were not broken from riot, until after they had 

 killed two or three brace of foxes from the Brio-stock 

 kennel ; they were then taken every morning when 

 they did not hunt for a couple of hours into 

 Rockingham Forest, and severely rated from deer, 

 hares, and rabbits, the place being particularly adapted 

 to the purpose. The Pytchley hounds were no less 

 remarkable for their steadiness than they were for 

 their stoutness and hunting qualities ; and I have no 

 doubt that this system considerably increased their 

 handiness afterwards in the field. Jack Wood, whose 

 rudiments of hunting were learned under the renowned 

 Philip Payne (many years huntsman to his Grace the 

 late Duke of Beaufort), and whose first-rate know- 

 ledge of the science, both in the kennel and in the 

 field, was partly acquired when living as first whipper- 

 in under Charles King, was of the same way of 

 thinking. Having hunted with him many seasons, 

 and having commenced invariably at early dawn, I 

 have had many good opportunities of not only observ- 

 ing and admiring the quiet and workmanlike manner 

 in which he drilled and educated his new entry, but 

 also of conversing with him upon the various subjects 

 relative to entering young hounds, and other matters 

 connected with the chase ; he considered it a most 

 useless and cruel practice to chastise and rate animals 

 from that mischief which in a few days they would 

 not only have so many opportunities of indulging in, 

 but be, as it were, encouraged to commit. While the 

 body of old hounds are running a fox with ever so 

 good a cry, it is impossible for the young ones to dis- 

 tinguish whether they are running the hares which are 



