174 DEAD HORSES. 



which have died from disease should never be given 

 to fox-hounds. 



In the autumn, when farming operations have 

 generally ceased, and the price, on the advent of 

 winter, warns small horse-keepers of the value of 

 hay, animals, old, lame, and nearly useless, of the 

 genus equine, may be readily bought up, and if 

 not absolutely fattened, got into tolerable condition 

 for the kennel, and it is far better to give a guinea 

 or twenty-five shillings for one of this description, 

 which may put on flesh, than twelve shillings for 

 a bag of bones, or a '' stiff \m," as my feeder 

 used to call a dead horse, rolled out of a farmer's 

 cart, as round as a beer barrel and tight as a di'um. 

 Such we were obliged to take in sometimes, but 

 they were consigned to the orchard to help the 

 growth of the apples. Old ladies' pet carriage - 

 horses, as fat and sleek as their coachman, would 

 occasionally arrive, with " Missus's compliments to 

 the young Squire," to entreat that the poor crea- 

 tures (a misnomer) might be put out of their 

 misery (looking quite happy), which was quickly 

 done by a rifle ball being sent through their brain, 

 when they fell dead instantaneously. Upon one 

 occasion, however, a young lady's horse was sent 

 by her papa with similar instructions, because he 

 was a little touched in the wind ; and in this case 



