152 DRAWING ACCORDING TO SIZE AND PACE 



of a well-constructed piece of machinery. Now, the 

 young sportsman, to whom 1 am more particularly 

 addressing myself, and whose knowledge in drawing 

 his pack has not been matured by much observation 

 and experience, would be saved from a great deal of 

 anxiety and disappointment, if he would consider 

 before he commences this most important part of the 

 duty of a huntsman, why he classes such and such 

 hounds. The grand point to be achieved is, to get 

 them to run and work together, their being all of one 

 height is quite a secondary consideration, although I 

 grant, that perfection cannot be said to be obtained 

 until that is the case. The fashion of the present 

 day is very frequently to hunt the dogs and bitches 

 separate ; but unless the forces are very numerous, I 

 fear that the ranks will not be filled up with much 

 credit and satisfaction ; a man must be either a very 

 successful breeder, or a very extensive purchaser, who 

 fancies he is to achieve so difficult a task during his 

 first two or three seasons. Another method is, to 

 divide them according to their size, so as to form a 

 large and a small pack, which is far more advisable 

 than hunting the sexes separate ; by so doing, the 

 necessity of drafting the smaller dogs may be dis- 

 pensed with, and consequently, the services of some 

 of the handsomest and best shaped of the puppies 

 secured. But the best of all systems is, in com- 

 mencing a pack of hounds, where it is a four-day 

 country, to form one good pack first, composed of the 

 elite of the kennel ; none should be older than four- 

 season hunters, and no two-year-olds which are very 

 wild, nor any of the last entr^^, should be admitted. 



