168 LATE TEEUING. 



will convince us how tlie case mnst stand with 

 animals. At our accustomed dinner hour Ave 

 experience certain irritating or gnawing sensations 

 about the region of the stomach, which increase 

 very soon to irritability of* temper in some indi- 

 viduals, should the fish and soup not be placed 

 on the table within half-an hour after the appointed 

 time ; but should any unforeseen event interpose, 

 to prevent our eating at all until two or three 

 more hours had elapsed, what would be our feel- 

 ings then? Those of a sinking and debilitating 

 nature, and even an indifference to food. 



For breakfast the slightest repast is w^ith many 

 men sufficient, and the body, being refreshed by 

 a good night's rest, is in a state to undergo fatigue, 

 without a great amount of nourishment or food to 

 feed the furnace ; but after a day's exercise or 

 work, the frame requires sustenance and support 

 of a more substantial kind — the dinner, in short, 

 l)eing the great meal of the day. With this idea, 

 I began feeding my hounds late in the day during 

 the hunting season, and my argument ran thus : — 

 i\Iy hounds, being accustomed to dine at a late 

 honr, will not begin to feel lear when they find 

 their second or third fox at tAvo or three o'clock, 

 the chances being in favour of their having made 

 a breakfast off their first, and so they Avonld go 



