168 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



What constitutes a Perfect Huntsman. 



he might have done better ; he may by this means make 

 the very losing of a fox of use to him. 



** Sometimes you will meet with a good kennel hunts- 

 man ; sometimes an active and judicious one in the field ; 

 some are clever at finding a fox, others are better after 

 he is found ; whilst perfection in a huntsman, like per- 

 fection in any thing else, is scarcely any where to be met 

 with. 



" The keeping hounds clean and healthy, and bringing 

 them into the field in their fullest vigour, is the excellence 

 of a good kennel huntsman; if besides this, he makes 

 his hounds both love and fear him ; if he is active, and 

 presses them on while the scent is good, always aiming 

 to keep as near to the fox as he can ; if, when his hounds 

 are at fault, he makes his cast with judgment, not casting 

 the wrong way first, and blundering on the right at last, 

 as many do ; if, added to this, he is patient and perse- 

 vering, never giving up a fox while there remains a 

 chance of killing him, he then is a perfect huntsman." 



With regard to the whippers-in — on leaving the kennel, 

 the place of the first whipper-in is before the hounds ; 

 the second whipper-in should follow them at some little 

 distance. — The first whipper-in may be considered as a 

 second huntsman, and should possess as nearly as pos- 

 sible the same good qualities ; but acting, as he must,under 

 the direction of the huntsman, a person may fulfil the 

 duties of this office without the experience so essential 

 to a good huntsman. He must always maintain to the 

 huntsman's halloo, and stop such hounds as divide from 

 it : when stopped, he should get to the huntsman with 

 them as soon as possible. He must always be content 



