166 WARM FOOD AND LODGINGS. 



from almost with loathing in the dog-days, when a 

 cold fore quarter of lamb, with salad, is a much 

 more appropriate and inviting dish. 



By the same rule we may be guided in feeding 

 hounds, which during the summer or idle months 

 require no animal food at all, and then their meat 

 should be given cold, and mixed up thin ; but a 

 total change is necessary when the hounds are 

 working hard in the winter season. The broth 

 ought to be boiling hot in the copper when the 

 hunting pack return to the kennel on a cold chilly 

 night, wet and draggled, through muddy lanes 

 or splashing roads. It is then they require warm 

 food and warm lodgings, and plenty of meat 

 added to their meal. The furnace of the animal 

 frame then requires fuel to keep up the required 

 animal heat ; but it must be added cautiously, not 

 all at once, when much exhaustion has ensued 

 from severe work. We never gave our hunters a 

 manger full of corn when they first returned from 

 hunting to the stable, or any corn whatever, until 

 an hour after they had swallowed a bucket-full 

 of thick gruel, and eaten some hay ; and we 

 treated our hounds in a similar manner after a 

 hard or long day, by feeding them twice, first 

 sparingly, and two hours after more bountifully ; 

 and every man accustomed to the severe exercise 



