82 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



the young ones, and returning home very hungry 

 to their breakfasts, forgot to uncouple them, in 

 consequence they began to fight, and although 

 the servants were only absent ten minutes, three 

 were killed, and several severely bitten. It is 

 necessary a feeder should be cleanly, active, and 

 good tempered ; the keeping the kennel, coppers, 

 troughs, &c. clean and dry, will contribute not 

 a little to the health of your pack ; it is needless 

 to say he ought to be trust-worthy. A man of 

 a good disposition will much sooner make young 

 hounds handy than one with a different temper ; 

 coaxing and encouragement are far better than 

 severe discipline, and in the breeding season much 

 depends upon the feeder's attention to the bitches 

 when they are going to heat ; and about the 

 whelping time. It is a mistaken idea to suppose 

 any hard working man will do for a feeder — it 

 requires a diligent person, with some head. 



In reply to your enquiry regarding scent. It 

 is so speculative a subject, and governed by such 

 an apparent contrariety of circumstances, that I 

 am more at a loss what to say upon it than upon 

 any thing I have written on the score of fox- 

 hunting. We all know Leicestershire, Lincoln- 

 shire, Rutlandshire, and Northamptonshire, to be 

 the best scenting counties in England, and where 

 hounds have a greater advantage over a fox than 



