QUALIFICATIONS OF A WHIPPER-IN. 147 



racter, who require a Master's supervision. I be- 

 lieve it was an observation made by Beckford, that 

 if he had his choice of a second-rate huntsman 

 and a first-rate whipper-in, or the reverse, he would 

 select the former ; and I am of the same opinion, 

 although for a different reason. First-class hunts- 

 men of the modern school are too much given to 

 assume the credit of killing foxes to themselves, 

 and far too eager to make a display of their talents 

 by scientific casts, taking those liberties with their 

 pack which certainly must prove injurious ; 

 whereas a man of moderate abilities, difiident of 

 his own knowledge, will be content to give the 

 hounds a fair opportunity of displaying theirs first ; 

 and seconded by a clever whipper-in, I will back 

 him to shew more sport, and maintain a better 

 pack, than the great genius. 



It is very desirable, if not necessary, for a 

 huntsman to possess a good temper and kind dis- 

 position, without which his hounds will never 

 become really attached to him ; but these are not 

 indispensable qualifications in a whipper-in, who, 

 to be perfect in his calling, must be held in terror 

 by the evil-doers of the pack ; in fact, they should 

 be as ready to fly from his rate, as willing to fly 

 to the cheer of their huntsman. His presence, or 

 even the sound of his voice, should have the eflect 



L 2 



