GREYHOUND AND DEERHOUND. 315 



a sapling is a subject which admits of some discussion. If the 

 former, the young dog has small chance of getting to work at 

 all, and if the latter, he may have so little assistance as to he 

 greatly distressed. Few people like to put down an honest old 

 dog with a sapling, and a cunning one soon teaches the tricks 

 which he himself displays. Sometimes young dogs have great 

 difficulty in killing, and want the encouragement afforded by 

 blood ; in such a case, a good killer may be desirable, but with 

 no other object could I ever put down an old dog with a sapling. 

 Before they are going to run in a stake, an old dog of known 

 speed should be put in slips with the puppy, in order to arrive 

 at a knowledge of the powers of the latter, but this is with a 

 view to a trial, and not as part of the entering of the grey- 

 hound. When a sapling has rim enough hares to know his 

 work, and has killed a hare, or been present at the death of one, 

 he may be put by as properly entered ; and the number required 

 will average about five or six — more or less according to the 

 cleverness of the particular animal, which will generally depend 

 upon his breed. 



The deerhoiind is entered at his game on the same principles 

 as the greyhound, but as red deer are more scarce than hares it 

 requires more time. It is always better to slip him with an older 

 companion, but beyond this precaution everything must be left to 

 his natural sagacity. As his nose is to be brought into play, and 

 as he may possibly cross the scent of hares or other gamg, he must 

 be made steady from all " riot," and, if possible, should be taken 

 up, in couples, to the death of a deer once or twice and " blooded," 

 so as to make him understand the nature of the scent. His in- 

 stinctive fondness for it will, however, generally serve him without 

 this, but the precaution is a good one, and may save some trouble 

 and risk. He will not do much in aid of his older companion in 



