46 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Breeding Hounds. 



see no reason why the breedmg of hounds may not 

 improve, till improvement can go no farther. If ever you 

 find a cross hit, always pursue it. — Never put an old dog 

 to an old bitch. — Be careful that they are healthy which 

 you breed from, or you are not likely to have a healthy 

 offspring. — Should a favourite dog skirt a little, put him 

 to a thorough line-hunting bitch, and such a cross may 

 succeed : my objection to the breeding from such a hound 

 is, that as skirting is what most fox-hounds acquire from 

 practice, you had better not make it natural to them. 



" The feeder should watch over the bitches with a 

 cautious eye, and separate such as are going to be proud, 

 before it is too late. The advances they make frequently 

 portend mischief as well as love ; and, if not prevented 

 in time, will not fail to set the whole kennel together by 

 the ears, and may occasion the death of your best dogs : 

 'care only can prevent it. — 



Mark well the wanton females of thy pacli, 

 That curl their taper tails, and frisking court 

 Their pyebald mates enamour'd ; their red eyes 

 Flash fires impure ; nor rest, nor food they take, 

 Goaded by furious love. In sep'rate cells 

 Confine them now, lest bloody civil wars 

 Annoy thy peaceful state. Somervile. 



"It is advisable to breed early in the year : January, 

 February, and March, are the best months. Late pup- 

 pies seldom come to much ; if there are any such, put 

 them to the best walks. — When bitches begin to get big, 

 they should cease to hunt : it frequently proves fatal to 

 the whelps ; sometimes to the bitch herself; nor is it safe 

 for them to remain much longer in the kennel. — If "pne 



