HUNTING DIRECTORY. 133 



Time of Entering Young Hounds. 



Beckford having detailed his own system consecutively, 

 I here insert it, stating in notes where I happen to differ 

 from him in opinion. 



" I begin to hunt my young hounds in August. The 

 employment of my huntsman the preceding months, is 

 to keep his old hounds healthy and quiet, by giving them 

 proper exercise, and to get his young hounds forward. 

 They are called over often in the kennel ; it uses them 

 to their names,* to the huntsman, and to the whipper-in. 

 They are walked out often among sheep, hares, and deer ; 

 it uses them to a rate. Sometimes he turns down a catf 

 before them, which they hunt up to and kill ; and, when 

 the time of hunting approaches, he turns out badgersf 

 or young foxes, taking out some of the steadiest of his 

 old hounds to lead them on — this teaches them to hunt. 

 He draws small covers and furze brakes with them, to 

 use them to a halloo, and to teach them obedience. If 

 they find improper game, and hunt it, they are stopped 

 and brought back ; and as long as they will stop at a 

 rate, they are not chastised. Obedience is all that is 

 required of them, till they have been sufficiently taught 

 the game they are to hunt. An obstinate deviation from 

 it afterwards is never pardoned. 



* This is an excellent plan ; upon which modern sportsmen have, liow- 

 tver, greatly improved ; since it has been carried to such perfection, that 

 the dogs separate from the bitches at a word, and vice versa. In some es- 

 tablishments, a pack is formed entirely of bitches; by which means no' 

 only these, but the other packs, become more sizeable, and have a more 

 pleasing appearance. Mr. OsbalJeston's bitch pack in 1825-6 presented 

 the most beautiful appearance I ever beheld. 



f I have already expressed my disapproval of the above practises. 



