IN DEVON AND SOMERSET 231 



one deer there are generally more, and if all the 

 hounds were thrown into cover at once there would 

 be risk of their dividing all over the place, and running 

 every deer but the right one, who would probably lie 

 fast till his enemies were hunting hinds and young 

 things elsewhere, and would then sneak quietly away. 



A few hounds only are, therefore, selected for the 

 purpose of finding the deer ; usually four or five couple, 

 but the number varies according to circumstances. As 

 the tufters have nearly always to run on with the pack 

 afterwards, strong hounds that will draw and throw 

 their tongues are needed, but any hounds that answer 

 to these requirements may be taken. The tufters are 

 not hounds sui generis at all, and in the course of the 

 season nearly every old hound is likely to have a turn 

 at it, as on some days especially if the deer are 

 together in the open it may be desirable to choose 

 hounds of great speed as being more likely to divide 

 the deer. Four couple are usually enough for stag- 

 hunting, and hounds in their first season should not 

 be employed, though occasionally it answers to give 

 a puppy who is afraid of the crowd this chance of 

 settling quietly on the scent in cover. 



Unless theharboureris very sure where the stag is 

 lying, he leads the huntsman to where the stag entered 

 the cover as he came off his feed, the master 



