6 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



breed more young Hounds than he requires, and 

 which are generally the perquisite of the Hunts- 

 man, or head man in the kennel. If you engage 

 all the draught young Hounds from a celebrated 

 kennel, you have a chance of having nearly as 

 good an entry as the breeder himself. Young 

 Hounds alter so much in the course of a few 

 months, that you would scarcely know them ; 

 more particularly laic whelps, which are often 

 under size when they arc sent home from their 

 walks. I have known instances of a Master of 

 Hounds losing nearly the whole of his entry re- 

 served for himself by the distemper, Avhilc his 

 draught entirely escaped it. With those and the 

 few you breed yourself, it may thus happen you 

 may have the best entry of the two ; and also, 

 which is another advantage, you are sure to have 

 well-bred Hounds, — nor is it so likely ani/ tricks 

 will be played. 



I have heard many a young master of Fox- 

 hounds say, " I am strong in old hounds, I am 

 therefore quite indifferent about my entry, I can 

 do well without any young hounds this year, and 

 my pack will be much better without them." I 

 allow he would not feel the want of them the 

 first season, but three or four years afterwards 

 how weak the pack would be, and what a loss 

 the senior department would have, as no pack 



