HUNTING DIRECTORY. 121 



The Duty of a Huntsmm. 



It is the duty of the huntsman always to attend the feed- 

 ing of the hounds ; which shoukl be drafted according to 

 their condition ; that is, making due allowance for other 

 collateral circumstances — some hounds, like some horses, 

 will feed better than others — some will look better than 

 others — and some will be able to endure more fatigue 

 than others : these are matters with which a huntsman, 

 if he possess discernment, will soon become acquainted, 

 and will of course act accordingly: — this, however, is 

 what distinguishes a good kennel huntsman. Beckford 

 says, such as are low in flesh had better be drafted off 

 into a separate kennel ; by this means the hounds that 

 require ^e*/i will have an equal share of it. If any are 

 much poorer than the rest, they should be fed again — 

 such hounds cannot be fed too often. He continues, '' I 

 have been told that in one kennel* in particular, the 

 hounds are under such excellent management, that they 

 are constantly fed with the door of the feeding yard open ; 

 and the rough nature of the fox-hound is changed into 

 so much politeness, that he waits at the door till he is in- 

 vited in ; and what perhaps is not less extraordmary, he 

 comes out again, whether he has satisfied his hunger or 

 not, the moment he is desired — the effect of severe di;-- 

 cipline. But since this is not absolutely necessary, and 

 hounds may be good without it ; and since I well know 

 your other amusements (he is writing to a friend) will 

 not permit you to attend to all this manoeuvring, I would 

 by no means wish you to give such power to your hunts- 



• Alluding no doubt to the Quorndon, when undor the direction of 

 the late Hugo Meynell, Esq. 



H 



