PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE 129 



down rules for kennel management, they are the result 

 of my own experience, which, as long as I remained a 

 Master of Fox-hounds, were rigidly enforced ; and I am 

 vain enough to think no man ever possessed a better 

 pack than myself. Although keeping a kennel-huntsman 

 or whipper-in (whose business was confined entirely to 

 the kennel), and feeder also, I generally took the hounds 

 with me during the summer over the farm, or in excursions 

 about the country when I had no other engagements, 

 often performing the part of dog-feeder also. Bad 

 taste, no doubt ; still I thought by feeding them they 

 became more attached to me ; in short, they were petted, 

 though not spoilt, and many of my favourites had nick- 

 names to which they answered as well as to their common 

 ones. So much I have written to show that I have had 

 some little practical experience, and have served a rather 

 long apprenticeship in that business which I profess to 

 teach to ohers, without intending to imply that every 

 M.F.H. should imitate my example, although he may 

 safely follow my precepts. The observations made are 

 addressed to the uninitiated, who are not above receiving 

 hints, not to old professors of the science, who probably 

 know more than myself. 



I was asked a short time ago my opinion about some 

 puppies of four months old (which had been brought up 

 in a yard) with large, wide feet, hke those of a duck, and 

 my advice was to turn them out of it immediately, as 

 the only chance of rectifying the deformity. The ex- 

 periment of bringing up fox-hound puppies in a large 

 yard has been often tried, and has as often failed, and 

 from this failure has arisen the necessity of sending them 

 out to walks in the country. They will grow and become 

 fat in confinement, but their limbs and feet invariably 



