HUNTING DIRECTORY. 131 



and what to disregard altogether. Turning a cub out 

 before them, with some old steady hounds to lead them, 

 is an excellent method of rendering them steady to their 

 own game. 



As soon as young hounds are become handy, stoop to 

 the scent, know a rate, and stop easily, they may be put 

 into the pack, a few at a time. The horn may be re- 

 garded as an indispensable appendage to a pack of fox- 

 hounds ; or at least, if not indispensable, it is very useful. 



" Flogging hounds in kennel, the frequent px'actice of 

 most huntsmen, I hold in abhorrence ; it is unreasonable, 

 unjust, and cruel ; and, carried to the excess we some- 

 times see it, is a disgrace to humanity. Hounds that 

 are old offenders, that are very riotous, and at the same 

 time very cunning, may be difficvdt to catch — such 

 hounds may be excepted: — they deserve punishment 

 whenever it happens, and you should not fail to give it 

 them when you can. This, you will allow, is a particular 

 case, and necessity may excuse it ; but let not the peace 

 and quiet of your kennel be often thus disturbed. When 

 hounds offend, punish them : when caught in the fact, 

 then let them suffer ; and, if you are severe, at least be 

 just." Whatever might have been the practice of hunts- 

 men in the days of the writer (Beckford) from which 1 

 have quoted the above, I have reason to believe that 

 flogging hounds in the kennel for faults committed in the 

 field has been long since abandoned, except perhaps 

 where the whipper-in was not able to reach or secure the 

 culprit ; but, even in this case, the offending hound 

 should be pursued immediately, and the chastisement in- 

 flicted while the animal is conscious of the crime ; since. 



