CHAPTER XIII 



How to select young Hounds. — The great Criterion of judicious 

 Breeding. — Necessity for rounding the Ears of Fox-hounds. — Rules 

 to be observed in selecting Drafts. — Mr, Warde's Hounds. — Cub- 

 hunting, and one of its necessary consequences. — Pursuing the Buck 

 under the eyes of Diana. — Nothing New under the Sun. 



The two first considerations which should influence every 

 Master of Fox-hounds in selecting his draft when the 

 young hounds return to kennel, are the fineness of nose 

 and the stoutness of their parents ; in fact, the best bred 

 would claim my attention before the best looking, 

 supposing, of course, that the former possessed the 

 requisites of good legs and feet, with powerful frames to 

 stand wear and tear. The progeny of untried mothers, 

 that is, their first litter, however handsome, should be 

 viewed rather with suspicion than with that favour which 

 is too generally bestowed on good looks. They may be 

 put forward on trial with this understanding, that they 

 are not to be depended upon until after the second season. 

 But those bred from well-tried sires and dams may be 

 safely calculated upon to add strength to the pack, and 

 not fail when most needed in their third season. 



Judgment in breeding fox-hounds, as well as in breeding 

 cattle and sheep, is of the very first importance, and from 

 the want of this it is that a pack of fox-hounds suffers 

 when taken in hand by a young huntsman and 

 inexperienced Master. Appearances to them are too 

 often the first consideration, and to these are sacrificed 

 the other sterling quahties upon which good sport most 



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