294 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



French Method of Training Hounds. 



proportion as they become more steady, the hounds are 

 removed from troop to troop, (cVharde en harde) to the 

 old pack ; at the same time, attention is paid that half 

 of the latter always consists of old dogs. The troops 

 remain in this state at least three months ; and the young 

 hounds are not removed into the pack till they have no 

 longer any occasion for persons to conduct them. 



When the new hounds are not numerous, they may be 

 trained in this manner without deranging the old pack : 

 when it is numerous, and the sportsman is desirous of 

 keeping up an excellent equipage, a small number of the 

 fleetest and staunchest hounds are selected to train the 

 young dogs ; and, when these are sufficiently docile and 

 steady, they are joined to the pack — so that no derange- 

 ment or suspension of pleasure takes place. 



Spring-hunting is considered the best for completing 

 the training of young hounds. To render them indif- 

 ferent to every other species of game but that which 

 they are destined to hunt, they are taken out coupled, 

 and in troops, (several couple of hounds tied together is 

 called a troop) to places where there is abundance of 

 game. They are suffered to see those kinds which they 

 are not intended to hunt, and if any of them appear 

 eager, and begin to chatter, they are corrected by the 

 person that accompanies them, who leads them, repeat- 

 ing — toute hellement,Ji ha hey, derriere, and continues his 

 way. This lesson is practised every day, till the hounds 

 are so steady as not to follow the scent of any animal 

 but that which they are to hunt : they soon look upon 

 all others with indifference." 



