is of a middle size, between the harrier and the stag-hound; it is the

old English hound, sufficiently crossed with the greyhound to give him

lightness and speed without impairing his scent; and he has now been

bred to a degree of speed sufficient to satisfy the man who holds his

neck at the least possible price, and with which few, except

thorough-bred horses, and not all of them, can live to the end of the

chase. The fox-hound is lighter, or as it is now called, more highly

bred, or he retains a greater portion of his original size and

heaviness, according to the nature of the country and the fancy of the

master of the pack: therefore it is difficult to give an accurate

description of the best variety of this dog; but there are guiding

points which can never be forgotten without serious injury.

He derives from the greyhound a head somewhat smaller and longer in

proportion to his size than either the stag-hound or the harrier. But

considerable caution is requisite here. The beauty of the head and face,

although usually accompanied by speed, must never be sacrificed to

stoutness and power of scent. The object of the sportsman is to

amalgamate them, or rather to possess them all in the greatest possible

degree. This will generally be brought to a great degree of perfection

if the sportsman regards the general excellence of the dog rather than

the perfection of any particular point. The ears should not,

comparatively speaking, be so large as those of the stag-hound or the

harrier; but the neck should be longer and lighter, the chest deep and

capacious, the fore legs straight as arrows, and the hind ones well bent

at the hock.

Some extraordinary accounts have been given of the speed of the

fox-hound. A match that was run over the Beacon Course at Newmarket is

the best illustration of his fleetness. The distance is 4 miles 1

furlong and 132 yards. The winning dog performed it in 8 minutes and a

few seconds; but of the sixty horses that started with the hounds, only

twelve were able to run in with them. Flying Childers had run the same

course in 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

"The size, or, as we should rather say, the height of a fox-hound, is

a point on which there has been much difference of opinion. Mr.

Chule's pack was three inches below the standard of Mr. Villebois',

and four inches below that of Mr. Warde's. The advocates of the former

assert, that they get better across a deep and strongly fenced

country, while the admirers of the latter insist on their being better

climbers of hills and more active in cover. As to uniformity in size,

it is by no means essential to the well-doing of hounds in the field,

and has been disregarded by some of our best sportsmen: Mr. Meynell

never drafted a good hound on account of his being over or under

sized. The proper standard of height in fox-hounds is from 21 to 22

inches for bitches, and from 23 to 24 for dog-hounds. Mr. Warde's

bitches, the best of the kind that our country contained, were rather

more than 23 inches. A few of his dogs were 25 inches high. The amount

of hounds annually bred will depend upon the strength of the kennel.

From sixty to eighty couples is the complement for a four days a-week

pack, which will require the breeding of a hundred couples of puppies

every year, allowing for accidents and distemper." [14]

Nimrod very properly observes, that

"Mr. Beckford has omitted a point much thought of by the modern

sportsmen, namely, 'the back-ribs', which should also be deep, as in a

strong-bodied horse, of which we say, when so formed, that he has a

good 'spur place;' a point highly esteemed in him. Nor is he

sufficiently descriptive of the hinder legs of the hound; for there is

a length of thigh discernible in first-rate hounds which, like the

well-let-down hock of the horse, gives them much superiority of speed,

and is also a great security against their laming themselves in

leaping fences, which they are more apt to do when they become blown

and consequently weak. The fore legs, 'straight as arrows,' is an

admirable illustration of perfection in those parts by Beckford; for,

as in a bow or bandy legged man, nothing is so disfiguring to a hound

as having his elbows projecting, and which is likewise a great check

to speed." [15]

Mr. Daniel gives a curious account of the prejudices of sportsmen on the

subject of colour. The white dogs were curious hunters, and had a

capital scent; the black, with some white spots, were obedient, good

hunters, and with good constitutions; the gray-coloured had no very

acute scent, but were obstinate, and indefatigable in their quest; the

yellow dogs were impatient and obstinate, and taught with difficulty.

[16]

The dog exhibits no criteria of age after the first two years. That

period having elapsed, the whiteness and evenness of the teeth soon pass

away, and the 'old' dog can scarcely be mistaken. Nimrod scarcely speaks

too positively when he says that an old hound cannot be mistaken, if

only looked in the face. At all events, few are found in a kennel after

the eighth year, and very few after the ninth.

Mr. Beckford advises the sportsman carefully to consider the size,

shape, colour, constitution, and natural disposition of the dog from

which he breeds, and also the fineness of the nose, the evident strength

of the limb, and the good temper and devotion to his master which he

displays. The faults or imperfections in one breed may be rectified in

another; and, if this is properly attended to, there is no reason why

improvements may not continually be made.

The separation of the sexes in the kennel and in the field is one of the

latest innovations in the hunting world, and generally considered to be

a good one. The eye is pleased to see a pack of hounds, nearly or quite

of a size. The character of the animal is more uniformly displayed when

confined to one sex. In consequence of the separation of the two, the

dogs are less inclined to quarrel; and the bitches are more at their

ease than when undergoing the importunate solicitations of the male. As

to their performances in the field, opinions vary, and each sex has its

advocates. The bitch, with a good fox before her, is decidedly more

off-hand at her work; but she is less patient, and sometimes overruns

the scent. Sir Bellingharn Graham has been frequently heard to say, that

if his kennels would have afforded it, he would never have taken a

dog-hound into the field. That in the canine race the female has more of

elegance and symmetry of form, consequently more of speed, than the

male, is evident to a common observer; but there is nothing to lead to

the conclusion that, in the natural endowments of the senses, any

superiority exists. [17]

The bitch should not be allowed to engage in any long and severe chase

after she has been lined. She should be kept as quiet as may be

practicable, and well but not too abundantly fed; each having a kennel

or place of retreat for herself. She should be carefully watched, and

especially when the ninth week approaches. The huntsman and the keeper

without any apparent or unnecessary intrusion, should be on the alert.

The time of pupping having arrived, as little noise or disturbance

should be made as possible; but a keeper should be always at hand in

case of abortion or difficult parturition. Should there be a probability

of either of these occurring, he should not be in a hurry; for, as much

should be left to nature as can, without evident danger, be done, and

the keeper should rarely intrude unless his assistance is indispensable.

The pupping being accomplished, the mother should be carefully attended

to. She should be liberally fed, and particularly should have her share

of animal food, and an increased quantity of milk.

The bitch should not have whelps until she has hunted two seasons; for,

before that time it will be scarcely possible to ascertain her

excellences or defects. If there are any considerable faults, she should

be immediately rejected.

When the time approaches for her to produce her puppies, she should be

allowed a certain degree of liberty, and should choose her couch and run

about a little more than usual; but, when the young ones are born, the

less they are handled the better. The constitution and appearance of the

mother will indicate how many should be kept. If two litters are born at

or about the same time, or within two or three days of each other, we

may interchange one or two of the whelps of each of them, and perhaps

increase the value of both.

When the whelps are able to crawl to a certain distance, it will be time

to mark them, according to their respective litters, some on the ear and

others on the lip. The dew-claws should be removed, and, usually, a

small tip from the tail. Their names also should be recorded.

The whelps will begin to lap very soon after they can look about them,

and should remain with the mother until they are fully able to take care

of themselves. They may then be prepared to go to quarters.

Two or three doses of physic should be given to the mother, with

intervals of four or five days between each: this will prepare her to

return to the kennel.

There is often considerable difficulty in disposing of the whelps until

they get old and stout enough to be brought into the kennel. They are

mostly sent to some of the neighbouring cottages, in order to be taken

care of; but they are often neglected and half starved there. In

consequence of this, distemper soon appears, and many of them are lost.

Whelps 'walked', or taken care of at butchers' houses, soon grow to a

considerable size; but they are apt to be heavy-shouldered and throaty,

and perhaps otherwise deformed. There is some doubt whether it might not

be better for the sportsman to take the management of them himself, and

to have a kennel built purposely for them. It may, perhaps, be feared

that the distemper will get among them: they would, however, be well

fed, and far more comfortable than they now are; and, as to the

distemper, it is a disease that they must have some time or other.

From twenty to thirty couples are quite as many as can be easily

managed; and the principal consideration is, whether they are steady,

and as nearly as possible equal of speed. When the packs are very large,

the hounds are seldom sufficiently hunted to be good. Few persons choose

to hunt every day, or, if they did, it is not likely that the weather

would permit them. The sportsman would, therefore, be compelled to take

an inconvenient number into the field, and too many must be left behind.

In the first place, too many hounds in the field would frequently spoil

the sport; and, on the other hand, the hounds that remained would get

out of wind, or become riotous, or both. Hounds, to be useful and good,

should be constantly hunted; but a great fault in many packs is their

having too many old dogs among them.

Young hounds, when first taken to the kennel, should be kept separate

from the rest of the pack, otherwise there will be frequent and

dangerous quarrels. When these do occur, the feeder hears, and

sometimes, but not so frequently as he ought, endeavours to discover the

cause of the disturbance, and visits the culprits with deserved

punishment; too often, however, he does not give himself time for this,

but rushes among them, and flogs every hound that he can get at, guilty

or not guilty. This is a shameful method of procedure. It is the cause

of much undeserved punishment: it spoils the temper of the dog, and

makes him careless and indifferent as long as he lives.

Mr. Beckford very properly remarks, that

"Young hounds are, and must be awkward at first, and should be taken

out, a few at a time, with couples not too loose. They are thus

accustomed to the usual occurrences of the road, and this is most

easily accomplished when a young and an old dog are coupled together."

A sheep-field is the next object, and the young hound, properly watched,

soon becomes reconciled, and goes quietly along with the companion of

the preceding day. A few days afterwards the dogs are uncoupled in the

field, and perhaps, at first, are not a little disposed to attack the

sheep; but the cry of "Ware sheep!" in a stern tone of voice, arrests

them, and often, without the aid of the whip; it being taken as a

principle that this instrument should be used as seldom as possible. If,

indeed, the dog is self-willed, the whip must be had recourse to, and

perhaps with some severity; for, if he is once suffered to taste the

blood of the sheep, it may be difficult to restrain him afterwards. A

nobleman was told that it was possible to break his dogs of the habit of

attacking his sheep, by introducing a large and fearless ram among them;

one was accordingly procured and turned into the kennel. The men with

their whips and voices, and the ram with his horns, soon threw the whole

kennel into confusion. The hounds and the ram were left together.

Meeting a friend soon afterwards, "Come," said he, "to the kennel, and

see what rare sport the ram is making among the hounds." His friend

asked whether he was not afraid that some of them might be spoiled.

"No," said he; "they deserve it, and let them suffer." They proceeded to

the kennel; all was quiet. The kennel-door was thrown open, and the

remains of the ram were found scattered about: the hounds, having filled

their bellies, had retired to rest.

The time of entering young hounds must vary in different countries. In a

corn country, it should not be until the wheat is carried; in grass

countries, somewhat sooner; and, in woodlands, as soon as we please.

Frequent hallooing may be of use with young hounds; it makes them more

eager; but, generally speaking, there is a time when it may be of use, a

time when it does harm, and a time when it is perfectly indifferent.

The following remarks of Mr. Beckford are worthy of their author:

"Hounds at their first entering cannot be encouraged too much. When

they begin to know what is right, it will be soon enough to chastise

them for doing wrong, and, in such case, one rather severe beating

will save a great deal of trouble. The voice should be used as well as

the whip; and the smack of the whip will often be of as much avail as

the lash to him who has felt it."

Flogging hounds in the kennel, the frequent practice of too many

huntsmen, should be held in utter abhorrence, and, if carried to a

considerable excess, is a disgrace to humanity. Generally speaking, none

but the sportsman can form an adequate conception of the perfect

obedience of the hound both in the kennel and the field. At

feeding-time, each dog, although hungry enough, will go through the gate

in the precise order in which he is called by the feeder; and, in a

well-broken pack, to chop at, or to follow a hare, or to give tongue on

a false scent, or even to break cover alone, although the fox is in

view, are faults that are rarely witnessed.

Let not this obedience, however, be purchased by the infliction of a

degree of cruelty that disgraces both the master and the menial. A young

fox-hound may, possibly, mistake the scent of a hare for that of a fox,

and give tongue. In too many hunts he will be unmercifully flogged for

this, and some have almost died under the lash. Mercy is a word totally

unknown to a great proportion of whippers-in, and even to many who call

themselves gentlemen. There can be no occasion or excuse for barbarity:

a little trouble, and moderate punishment, and the example of his

fellows, will gradually teach the wildest hound his duty.

That the huntsman, and not the hound, may occasionally be in fault, the

following anecdote will furnish sufficient proof. In drawing a strong

cover, a young bitch gave tongue very freely, while none of the other

hounds challenged. The whipper-in railed to no purpose; the huntsman

insisted that she was wrong, and the whip was applied with great

severity. In doing this, the lash accidentally struck one of her eyes

out of its socket.

Notwithstanding the dreadful pain that must have ensued, she again took

up the scent, and proved herself right; for the fox had stolen away, and

she had broken cover after him, unheeded and alone. After much delay and

cold hunting, the pack hit off the same scent.

At some distance a farmer informed the sportsmen, that they were a long

way behind the fox, for he had seen a single hound, very bloody about

the head, running breast-high, so that there was but little chance of

their getting up with her. The pack, from her coming to a check, did at

last overtake her.

The same bitch once more hit off the scent, and the fox was killed,

after a long and severe run. The eye of the poor animal, that had hung

pendent through the chase, was then taken off with a pair of scissors.

THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SEASON.

During the beginning of autumn, the hounds should be daily exercised

when the weather will permit. They should often be called over in the

kennel to habituate them to their names, and walked out among the sheep

and deer, in order that they may he accustomed perfectly to disregard

them.

A few stout hounds being added to the young ones, some young foxes may

occasionally be turned out. If they hunt improper game, they must be

sternly checked. Implicit obedience is required until they have been

sufficiently taught as to the game which they are to pursue. No

obstinate deviation from it must ever be pardoned. The hounds should be,

as much as possible, taken out into the country which they are

afterwards to hunt, and some young foxes are probably turned out for

them to pursue. At length they are suffered to hunt their game in

thorough earnest, and to taste of its blood.

After this they are sent to more distant covers, and more old hounds are

added, and so they continue until they are taken into the pack, which

usually happens in September. The young hounds continue to be added, two

or three couple at a time, until all have hunted. They are then divided

into two packs, to be taken out alternate days. Properly speaking, the

sport cannot be said to begin until October, but the two preceding

months are important and busy ones. [18]

"It would appear, then," says Nimrod, "that the breeding of a pack of

fox-hounds, bordering on perfection, is a task of no ordinary

difficulty. The best proof of it is to be found in the few sportsmen

that have succeeded in it. Not only is every good quality obtained if

possible, but every imperfection or fault is avoided. The highest

virtue in a fox-hound is his being true to the line his game has gone,

and a stout runner at the end of the chase. He must also be a patient

hunter when there is a cold scent and the pack is at fault."

While there is no country in the world that can produce a breed of

horses to equal the English thorough-bred in his present improved state,

there are no dogs like the English fox-hound for speed, scent, and

continuance. It would seem as if there were something in the climate

favourable and necessary to the perfection of the hound. Packs of them

have been sent to other countries, neighbouring and remote; but they

have usually become more or less valueless.

As regards the employment of the voice and the horn when out with

hounds, too much caution cannot be used. A hound should never be cheered

unless we are perfectly convinced that he is right, nor rated unless we

are sure that he is wrong. When we are not sure of what is going on we

should sit still and be silent. A few moments will possibly put us in

possession of all that we wish to know. [19]

The horn should only be used on particular occasions, and a huntsman

should speak by his horn as much as by his voice. Particular notes

should mean certain things, and the hounds and the field should

understand the language. We have heard some persons blowing the horn all

the day long, and the hounds have become so careless as to render it of

no use. When a hound first speaks in cover to a fox, you may, if you

think it necessary, use 'one single' and prolonged note to get the pack

together. The same note will do at any time to call up a lost or

loitering hound; but, when the fox breaks cover, then let your horn be

marked in its notes: let it sound as if you said through it, "Gone away!

gone away! gone away! away! away! away!" dwelling with full emphasis on

the last syllable. Every hound will fly from the cover the moment he

hears this, and the sportsmen and the field will know that the fox is

away.

It is the perfection of the horse, and the perfection of the hound, and

the disregard of trifling expense, that has given to Englishmen a

partiality for field-sports, unequalled in any other country. Mr. Ware's

pack of fox-hounds cost 2000 guineas, and the late Lord Middleton gave

the same to Mr. Osbaldeston for ten couples of his hounds.

HUNTING-KENNELS.

It is time, however, to speak of the kennel, whether we regard the

sporting architecture of Mr.G. Tattersall, or the scientific inquiries

of Mr. Vyner, or a sketch of the noble buildings at Goodwood.

The lodging-rooms should be ceiled, but not plastered, with ventilators

above and a large airy window on either side. The floors should be laid

with flags or paved with bricks. Cement may be used instead of mortar,

and the kennels will then be found wholesome and dry. The doorways of

the lodging-houses will generally be four feet and a half wide, in the

clear. The posts are rounded, to prevent the hounds from being injured

when they rush out. The benches may be made of cast-iron or wood; those

composed of iron being most durable, but the hounds are more frequently

lamed in getting to them. The wooden benches must be bound with iron, or

the hounds will gnaw or destroy them. A question has arisen, whether the

benches should be placed round the kennel, or be in the centre of it,

allowing a free passage by the side. There is least danger of the latter

being affected by the damp. The walls should be wainscoted to the height

of three feet at least. This will tend very considerably to their

comfort.

The floors of all the courts should be arranged in nearly the same way;

the partition walls being closed at the bottom, but with some iron work

above. The doorways should also be so contrived, that the huntsman may

be able to enter whenever he pleases. The boiling-house should be at as

great a distance from the hunting-kennel as can be managed, continuing

to give warmth to the infirmary for distempered puppies, and at the same

time being out of the way of the other courts.

Mr. Vyner gives an interesting account of the young hounds' kennel:

"This building," he says, "should be as far from the other

lodging-rooms as the arrangements of the structure will allow. There

is also an additional court, or grass-yard, an indispensable requisite

in the puppies' kennel. The size must be regulated according to the

waste land at the end of the building; but the longer it is, the

better. At the farther end of the grass-court is a hospital for such

young hounds as are distempered, so contrived as to be remote from the

other kennels, and, at the same time, within an easy distance of the

boiling-house, whence it is apparently approached by an outside door,

through which the feeder can constantly pass to attend to the sick

hounds without disturbing the healthy lots. Although this lodging room

is warmed by the chimney of the boiling-house, it must be well

ventilated by two windows, to which shutters must be attached;

ventilation and good air being quite as necessary to the cure of

distemper as warmth."

KENNEL LAMENESS.

We now proceed to a most important and ill-understood subject--the

nature and treatment of 'kennel lameness'. It is a subject that nearly

concerns the sportsman, and on which there are several and the most

contrary opinions.

This is a kind of lameness connected with, or attributable to, the

kennel. According to the early opinion of Mr. Asheton Smith, who is a

good authority, it was referable to some peculiarity in the breed or

management of the hounds; but, agreeably to a later opinion, it is

dependent on situation and subsoil, and may be aggravated or increased

by circumstances over which we have no control. Some kennels are in low

and damp situations, yet the hounds are free from all complaint: and

others, with the stanchest dogs and under the best management, are

continually sinking under kennel lameness.

Mr. R. T. Vyner was one of the first who scientifically treated on this

point, and taught us that 'clay is not by any means an objectionable

soil to build a kennel upon', although so many pseudo-sportsmen are

frightened by the very name of it.

He enters at once into his subject.

"I am thoroughly convinced," says he, "from my own experience, and, I

may add, my own suffering, that the disease of kennel lameness arises

only from one cause, and that is an injudicious and unfortunate

selection of the spot for building. The kennel is generally built on a

sand-bed, or on a sandstone rock, while the healthiest grounds in

England are on a stiff clay, and they are the healthiest because they

are the least porous. Although this may be contrary to the opinion and

prejudice of the majority of sportsmen, it is a fact that cannot be

contradicted.

"Through a light and friable soil, such as sand and sandstone, a

vapour, more or less dense, is continually exhaling and causing a

perpetual damp, which produces that fearful rheumatism which goes by

the name of kennel lameness, while the kennels that are built on a

clay soil, a soil of an impervious nature, are invariably healthy.

"I could," he adds, "enumerate twenty kennels to prove the effect--the

invariable effect--of the existence of the disease on the one part,

and of the healthiness of the situation on the other. I turn

particularly to her Majesty's kennel at Ascot, the arches of which

were laid under the very foundation strain, and yet little at no

amendment has ever taken place in the healthiness and comfort of the

dogs. It is necessary to select a sound and healthy situation when

about to erect a kennel, and that sound and healthy situation can be

met with alone on a strong impervious clay soil. We must have no fluid

oozing through the walls or the floor of the kennel, and producing

damp and unhealthy vapours, such as we find in the sandbed."

With regard to this there can be no error.

Nimrod, in his excellent treatise on 'Kennel Lameness', asks, whether it

does not appear that this disease is on the increase. He asks,

"How is it that neither Beckford nor Somerville says one word that

clearly applies to the disease; and no one, however learned he might

be in canine pathology, has been able clearly to define the disease,

much less to discover a remedy for it?"

All that Mr. Blaine says on the matter amounts only to this:

"The healthiness of the situation on which any kennel is to be built,

is an important consideration. It is essential that it should be both

dry and airy, and it should also be warm. A damp kennel produces

rheumatism in dogs, which shows itself sometimes by weakness in the

loins, but more frequently by lameness in the shoulders, known under

the name of kennel lameness."

Mr. Blaine illustrates this by reference to his own experience.

"There is no disease, with the exception of distemper and mange, to

which dogs are so liable as to a rheumatic affection of some part of

the body. It presents almost as many varieties in the dog as it does

in man; and it has some peculiarities observable in the dog only.

Rheumatism never exists in a dog without affecting the bowels. There

will be inflammation or painful torpor through the whole of the

intestinal canal. It is only in some peculiar districts that this

occurs; it pervades certain kennels only; and but until lately there

has been little or almost no explanation of the cause of the evil."

[20]

Nimrod took a most important view of the matter, and to him the sporting

world is much indebted.

"How is it," he asks, "that, in our younger days, we never heard of

kennel lameness, or, indeed, of hounds being lame at all, unless from

accident, or becoming shaken and infirm from not having been composed

of that iron-bound material which the labours of a greyhound or a

hound require? How is it, that, in our younger days, masters of hounds

began the season with 50 or 60 couples, and, bating the casualties,

left off at the end of it equally strong in their kennels, and able,

perhaps, to make a valuable draft; whereas we now hear of one-half of

the dogs in certain localities being disabled by disease, and some

masters of hounds compelled to be stopped in their work until their

kennels are replenished."

Washing hounds when they come home after work must be injurious to them,

although it has almost become the fashion of modern times. If they are

not washed at all, and we believe it to be unnecessary, yet the kennels

in which lameness has appeared should be strictly avoided. It should be

on the day following and not in the evening of a hunting-day that

washing should take place.

Mr. Hodgson told Nimrod, that the Quorn Pack never had a case of kennel

lameness until his late huntsman took to washing his hounds after

hunting, and then he often had four or five couples ill from this cause.

He deprecated even their access to water in the evening after hunting,

and we believe that he was quite right in so doing.

The tongue of the dog, with the aid of clean straw, is his best and

safest instrument in cleansing his person; and, if he can be brought to

his kennel with tolerably clean feet, as Mr. Foljambe enables him to be

brought, he will never be long before he is comfortable in his bed,

after his belly is filled.

There is another mode, as a preventive of kennel lameness, which we have

the best authority for saying deserves particular attention, and that

is, the frequently turning hounds off their benches during the day, even

if it were to the extent of every two hours throughout the entire day.

We do not mean to deny the existence of a disease, which, being produced

in the kennel, is properly termed kennel lameness. Some kennels are, no

doubt, more unhealthy and prone to engender rheumatic affections than

others; but, by proper management, and avoiding as much as possible all

exciting causes, their effects may, at least, be very much lessened, if

not entirely obviated.

LORD FITZHARDINGE'S MANAGEMENT.

Lord Fitzhardinge's opinion of the situation of the kennel and the

management of the hounds, as given in the 'New Sporting Magazine', is

somewhat different from that which has been just given. The following is

the substance of it: [21]

He states that the kennel should be built on a dry and warm situation.

Of this there can be no doubt: the comfort and almost the existence of

the dog depend upon it. To this he adds that it must not be placed on a

gravelly or porous soil, over which vapours more or less dense are

frequently or continually travelling, and thus causing a destructive

exhalation over the whole of the building. There must be no fluid oozing

through the walls or the floor of the kennel, and producing damp and

unhealthy vapours. When we have not a deep supersoil of clay, one or two

layers of bricks or of stone may line the floor, and then, not even the

most subtile vapour can penetrate through the floor. A clean bed of

straw should be allowed every second day, or oftener when the weather is

wet. The lodging-houses should be ceiled, and there should be shutters

to the windows. A thatched roof is preferable to tiles, being warmer in

winter and cooler in summer.

Stoves in the kennels are not necessary: probably they are best avoided;

for, if dogs are accustomed to any considerable degree of artificial

heat, they are more easily chilled by a long exposure to cold. Their

teeth and the setting-up of their backs will confirm this.

Hounds, when they feel cold, naturally seek each other for warmth, and

they may be seen lying upon the straw and licking each other; and that

is by far the most wholesome way of procuring comfort and warmth.

On returning from hunting, their feet should be washed with some warm

fluid, and especially the eyes should be examined, and their food got

ready for them as soon as possible. The feeding in the morning should be

an hour, or an hour and a half, before they start for the field.

It is truly observed by the noble writer to whom we have referred, that

there is no part of an establishment of this kind that merits more

attention than the boiling and feeding house. The hounds cannot perform

their work well unless judiciously fed. Each hound requires particular

and constitutional care. No more than five of them should be let in to

feed together, and often not more than one or two. The feeder should

have each hound under his immediate observation, or they may get too

much or too little of the food.

Some hounds cannot run if they carry much flesh; others are all the

better for having plenty about them. The boilers should be of iron, two

in number,--one for meal and the smaller one for flesh. The large boiler

should render it necessary to be used not more than once in four days or

a week. The food should be stirred for two hours, then transferred to

flat coolers, until sufficiently gelatinous to be cut with a kind of

spade. By the admixture of some portion of soups it may be brought to

any thickness requisite. The flesh to be mixed with it should be cut

very small, that the greedy hounds may not be able to obtain more than

their share. Four bushels and a half of genuine old oatmeal should be

boiled with a hundred gallons of water. The flesh should he boiled every

second or third day. Too great a proportion of soup would render the

mixture of a heating nature.

Mr. Delmé Radcliffe very truly observes that the feeding of hounds, as

regards their condition, is one of the most essential proofs of a

huntsman's skill in the management of the kennel. To preserve that even

state of condition throughout the pack which is so desirable, he must be

well acquainted with the appetite of every hound; for some will feed

with a voracity scarcely credible, and others will require every kind of

enticement to induce them to feed.

Mr. Meynell found that the use of dry unboiled oatmeal succeeded better

than any other thing he had tried with delicate hounds. When once

induced to take it, they would eat it greedily, and it seemed to be far

more heartening than most kinds of aliment. Other hounds of delicate

constitution might be tempted with a little additional flesh, and with

the thickest and best of the trough, but they required to be watched,

and often to be coaxed to eat.

The dog possesses the power of struggling against want of food for an

almost incredible period. One of these animals, six years old, was

missing three-and-twenty days; at length some children wandering in a

distant wood thought that they frequently heard the baying of a dog. The

master was told of it, and at the bottom of an old quarry, sixty feet

deep, and the mouth of which he had almost closed by his vain attempts

to escape, the voice of the poor fellow was recognised. With much

difficulty he was extricated, and found in a state of emaciation; his

body cold as ice and his thirst inextinguishable, and he scarcely able

to move. They gave him at intervals small portions of bread soaked in

milk and water. Two days afterwards he was able to follow his master a

short distance.

This occurrence is mentioned by M. Pinguin as a proof that neither

hunger nor thirst could produce rabies. Messrs. Majendie and F. Cousins

have carried their observations to the extent of forty days--a

disgraceful period. [22]

MANAGEMENT OF THE PACK.

Sixty-five couple of hounds in full work will consume the carcases of

three horses in one week, or five in a fortnight. The annual consumption

of meal will be somewhat more than two tons per month.

In feeding, the light eaters should be let in first, and a little extra

flesh distributed on the surface of the food, in order to coax those

that are most shy. Some hounds cannot be kept to their work unless fed

two or three times a day; while others must not be allowed more than six

or seven laps, or they would get too much.

In summer an extra cow or two will be of advantage in the dairy; for the

milk, after it has been skimmed, may be used instead of flesh. There

must always be a little flesh in hand for the sick, for bitches with

their whelps, and for the entry of young hounds.[23] About Christmas is

the time to arrange the breeding establishment. The number of puppies

produced is usually from five to eight or nine; but, in one strange

case, eighteen of them made their appearance. The constitution and other

appearances in the dam, will decide the number to be preserved. When the

whelps are sufficiently grown to run about, they should be placed in a

warm situation, with plenty of fresh grass, and a sufficient quantity of

clean, but not too stimulating, food. They should then be marked

according to their respective letters, that they may be always

recognised. When the time comes, the ears of the dog should be rounded;

the size of the ear and of the head guiding the rounding-iron.

This being passed, the master of the pack takes care that his treatment

shall be joyous and playful; encouragement is always with him the word.

The dog should be taught the nature of the fault before he is corrected:

no animal is more grateful for kindness than a hound; the peculiarities

of his temper will soon be learned, and when he begins to love his

master, he will mind, from his natural and acquired affection, a word or

a frown from him more than the blows of all the whips that were ever put

into the hands of the keepers.

The distemper having passed, and the young hounds being in good health,

they should be walked out every day, and taught to follow the horse,

with a keeper who is selected as a kind and quiet person, and will bear

their occasionally entangling themselves in their couples. They are then

taken to the public roads, and there exercised, and checked from riot,

but with as little severity as possible; a frequent and free use of the

whip never being allowed. No animals take their character from their

master so much as the hounds do from theirs. If he is wild, or noisy, or

nervous, so will his hounds be; if he is steady and quick, the pack will

be the same. The whip should never be applied but for some immediate and

decided fault. A rate given at an improper time does more harm than

good: it disgusts the honest hound, it shies and prevents from hunting

the timid one, and it is treated with contempt by those of another

character who may at some future time deserve it. It formerly was the

custom, and still is too much so, when a hound 'has hung on a hare', to

catch him when he comes up, and flog him. The consequence of this is,

that he takes good care the next time he indulges in a fault not to come

out of cover at all.

We will conclude this part of our subject by a short account of the

splendid kennel at Goodwood, for which we are indebted to Lord W.

Lennox, with the kind permission of the Duke of Richmond. It is

described as one of the most complete establishments of the kind in

England. The original establishment of this building, although a little

faulty, possesses considerable interest from its errors being corrected

by the third Duke of Richmond, a man who is acknowledged to have been

one of the most popular public characters of the day, and who in more

private life extended his patronage to all that was truly honourable. It

was to the Duke's support of native talent that we may trace the origin

of the present Royal Academy. In 1758, the Duke of Richmond displayed,

at his residence in Whitehall, a large collection of original plaster

casts, taken from the finest statues and busts of the ancient sculptors.

Every artist was freely admitted to this exhibition and, for the further

encouragement of talent, he bestowed two medals annually on such as had

exhibited the best models.

We have thus digressed in order to give a slight sketch of the nobleman

by whom this kennel was built, and we do not think that we can do better

than lay before our readers the original account of it.

Early in life the Duke built what was not then common, a tennis-court,

and what was more uncommon, a dog-kennel, which cost him above £6000.

The Duke was his own architect, assisted by, and under the guidance of,

Mr. Wyatt; he dug his own flints, burnt his own lime, and conducted the

wood-work in his own shops. The result of his labours was the noble

building of which a plan is here given.

The dog-kennel is a grand object when viewed from Goodwood. The front is

handsome, the ground well raised about it, and the general effect good;

the open court in the centre adds materially to the noble appearance of

the building.

The entrance to the kennel is delineated in the centre with a flight of

stairs leading above. The huntsman's rooms, four in number first present

themselves, and are marked in the plan before us by the letter C; each

of them is fifteen feet four inches, by fourteen feet six inches.

At each end of the side towards the court is one of the feeding-rooms,

twenty-nine feet by fourteen feet four inches, and nobly constructed

rooms they are; they are designated by the letters B. At the back of the

feeding-rooms, are one set of the lodging-rooms, from thirty-five feet

six inches, to fourteen feet four inches, and marked by the letters A,

and at either extremity is another lodging-room, thirty-two feet six

inches in length, and fourteen feet six inches in width: this is also

marked by the letter A.

Coming into the court we find the store-room twenty-four feet by

fourteen and a half, marked by the letter D, and the stable, of the same

dimensions, by the letter E.

At the top of the buildings are openings for the admission of cold air,

and stoves to warm the air when too cold. There are plentiful supplies

of water from tanks holding 10,000 gallons; so that there is no

inconvenience from the smell, and the whole can at any time be drained,

and not be rendered altogether useless.

Round the whole building is a pavement five feet wide; airy yards and

places for breeding, &c., making part of each wing. For the huntsman and

whipper-in there are sleeping-rooms, and a neat parlour or kitchen.

Soon after the kennel was erected, it would contain two packs

of hounds.

THE STAG-HOUND.

The largest of the English hounds that has been lately used, is devoted,

as his name implies, to the chase of the deer. He is taller than the

fox-hound, and with far more delicate scent, but he is not so speedy. He

answers better than any other to the description given of the old

English hound, so much valued when the country, less enclosed, and the

forests, numerous and extensive, were the harbours of the wild deer. The

deer-hound and the harrier were for many centuries the only

hunting-dogs. The fox-hound has been much more recently bred.

The most tyrannic and cruel laws were enforced for the preservation of

this species of game, and the life of the deer, except when sacrificed

in the chase, and by those who were privileged to join in it, was

guarded with even more strictness than the life of the human being.

When, however, the country became more generally cultivated, and the

stag was confined to enclosed parks, and was seldom sought in his lair,

but brought into the field, and turned out before the dogs, so much

interest was taken from the affair, that this species of hunting grew

out of fashion, and was confined to the neighbourhood of the scattered

forests that remained, and enjoyed only by royalty and a few noblemen,

of whose establishment a kennel of deer-hounds had, from time

immemorial, formed a part.

Since the death of George III, who was much attached to this sport,

stag-hunting has rapidly declined, and the principal pleasure seems now

to consist in the concourse of people brought together to an appointed

place and hour, to witness the turning out of the deer. There is still

maintained a royal establishment for the continuance of this noble

sport, but, unless better supported than it has of late years been, it

will gradually decline.

The stag-hounds are now a part of the regular Crown establishment. The

royal kennel is situated upon Ascot Heath, about six miles from Windsor.

At the distance of a mile from the kennel is Swinley Lodge, the official

residence of the Master of the Stag-hounds.

The stag-hound is a beautiful animal. He is distinguished from the

fox-hound by the apparent broadness and shortness of his head, his

longer cheek, his straighter hock, his wider thigh and deeper chest, and

better feathered and more beautifully arched tail. His appearance

indicates strength and stoutness, in which indeed he is unequalled, and

he has sufficient speed to render it difficult for the best horses long

to keep pace with him; while, as is necessary, when the distance between

the footmarks of the deer is considered, his scent is most exquisite. He

is far seldomer at fault than any other hound except the blood-hound,

and rarely fails of running down his game.

Of the stoutness of this dog, the following anecdotes will be a

sufficient illustration. A deer, in the spring of 1822, was turned out

before the Earl of Derby's hounds in Hayes Common. The chase was

continued nearly four hours without a check, when, being almost run

down, the animal took refuge in some outhouses near Speldhurst in Kent,

more than forty miles across the country, and having actually run more

than fifty miles. Nearly twenty horses died in the field, or in

consequence of the severity of the chase.

A stag was turned out at Wingfield Park, in Northumberland. The whole

pack, with the exception of two hounds, was, after a long run, thrown

out. The stag returned to his accustomed haunt, and, as his last effort,

leaped the wall of the park, and lay down and died. One of the hounds,

unable to clear the wall, fell and expired, and the other was found dead

at a little distance. They had run about forty miles.

"When the stag first hears the cry of the hounds, he runs with the

swiftness of the wind, and continues to run as long as any sound of

his pursuers can be distinguished. That having ceased, he pauses and

looks carefully around him; but before he can determine what course to

pursue, the cry of the pack again forces itself upon his attention.

Once more he darts away, and after a while again pauses. His strength

perhaps begins to fail, and he has recourse to stratagem in order to

escape. He practises the doubling and the crossing of the fox or the

hare. This being useless, he attempts to escape by plunging into some

lake or river that happens to lie in his way, and when, at last, every

attempt to escape proves abortive, he boldly faces his pursuers, and

attacks the first dog or man who approaches him." [24]

SOUTHERN HOUND.

There used to be in the south of Devon a pack or cry of the genuine old

English or southern hounds. There is some reason to believe that this

was the original stock of the island, or of this part of the island, and

that this hound was used by the ancient Britons in the chase of the

larger kinds of game with which the country formerly abounded. Its

distinguishing characters are its size and general heavy appearance; its

great length of body, deep chest, and ears remarkably large and

pendulous. The tones of its voice were peculiarly deep. It answered the

description of Shakspeare:

"So flewed, so sanded; and their heads are hung

With ears that sweep away the morning dew;

Crook-knee'd, and dew-lapp'd, like Thessalian bulls;

Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells,

Each under each."

It was the slowness of the breed which occasioned its disuse. Several of

them, however, remained not long ago at a village called Aveton Gifford,

in Devonshire, in the neighbourhood of which some of the most opulent of

the farmers used to keep two or three dogs each. When fox-hunting had

assumed somewhat of its modern form, the chase was followed by a slow

heavy hound, whose excellent olfactory organs enabled him to carry on

the scent a considerable time after the fox-hound passed, and also over

grassy fallows, and hard roads, and other places, where the modern

high-bred fox-hound would not be able to recognise it. Hence the chase

continued for double the duration which it does at present, and hence

may be seen the reason why the old English hunter, so celebrated in

former days and so great a favourite among sportsmen of the old school,

was enabled to perform those feats which were exultingly bruited in his

praise. The fact is, that the hounds and the horse were well matched. If

the latter possessed not the speed of the Meltonian hunter, the hounds

were equally slow and stanch.

THE BLOOD-HOUND.

This dog does not materially differ in appearance from the old

deer-hound of a larger size, trained to hunt the human being instead of

the quadruped. If once put on the track of a supposed robber, he would

unerringly follow him to his retreat, although at the distance of many a

mile. Such a breed was necessary when neither the private individual nor

the government had other means to detect the offender. Generally

speaking, however, the blood-hound of former days would not injure the

culprit that did not attempt to escape, but would lie down quietly and

give notice by a loud and peculiar howl what kind of prey he had found.

Some, however, of a savage disposition, or trained to unnatural

ferocity, would tear to pieces the hunted wretch, if timely rescue did

not arrive.

Hounds of every kind, both great and small, may be broken in to follow

any particular scent, and especially when they are feelingly convinced

that they are not to hunt any other. This is the case with the

blood-hound. He is destined to one particular object of pursuit, and a

total stranger with regard to every other.

In the border country between England and Scotland, and until the union

of the two kingdoms, these dogs were absolutely necessary for the

preservation of property, and the detection of robbery and murder. A tax

was levied on the inhabitants for the maintenance of a certain number of

blood-hounds. When, however, the civic government had sufficient power

to detect and punish crime, this dangerous breed of hounds fell into

disuse and was systematically discouraged. It, nevertheless, at the

present day, is often bred by the rangers in large forests or parks to

track the deer-stealer, but oftener to find the wounded deer.

The blood-hound is taller and better formed than the deer-hound. It has

large and deep ears, the forehead broad and the muzzle narrow. The

expression of the countenance is mild and pleasing, when the dog is not

excited; but, when he is following the robber, his ferocity becomes

truly alarming.

The Thrapstone Association lately trained a blood-hound for the

detection of sheepstealers. In order to prove the utility of this dog, a

person whom he had not seen was ordered to run as far and as fast as his

strength would permit. An hour afterwards the hound was brought out. He

was placed on the spot whence the man had started. He almost immediately

detected the scent and broke away, and, after a chase of an hour and a

half, found him concealed in a tree, fifteen miles distant.

Mr. John Lawrence says, that a servant, discharged by a sporting country

gentleman, broke into his stables by night, and cut off the ears and

tail of a favourite hunter. As soon as it was discovered, a blood-hound

was brought into the stable, who at once detected the scent of the

miscreant, and traced it more than twenty miles. He then stopped at a

door, whence no power could move him. Being at length admitted, he ran

to the top of the house, and, bursting open the door of a garret, found

the object that he sought in bed, and would have torn him to pieces, had

not the huntsman, who had followed him on a fleet horse, rushed up after

him.

Somerville thus describes the use to which he was generally put, in

pursuit of the robber:

"Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail

Flourished in air, low bending, plies around

His busy nose, the steaming vapour snuffs

Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untried,

Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart

Beats quick. His snuffing nose, his active tail,

Attest his joy. Then, with deep opening mouth,

That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims

Th' audacious felon. Foot by foot he marks

His winding way. Over the watery ford,

Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills,

Unerring he pursues, till at the cot

Arrived, and seizing by his guilty throat

The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey."

THE SETTER

is evidently the large spaniel improved to his peculiar size and beauty,

and taught another way of marking his game, viz., by 'setting' or

crouching. If the form of the dog were not sufficiently satisfactory on

this point, we might have recourse to history for information on it. Mr.

Daniel, in his 'Rural Sports', has preserved a document, dated in the

year 1685, in which a yeoman binds himself for the sum of ten shillings,

fully and effectually to teach a spaniel to 'sit' partridges and

pheasants.

[As this old document may prove interesting to the curious, we take the

liberty of inserting it, knowing full well, that Mr. Daniel's work is

quite rare in this country, and copies of it are not easily obtained

even in England.

Ribbesford, Oct. 7, 1685,

"I, John Harris, of Willdon, in the parish of Hastlebury, in the

county of Worcester, yeoman, for and in consideration of ten shillings

of lawful English money this day received of Henry Herbert of

Ribbesford, in the said county, Esqr., and of thirty shillings more of

like money by him promised to be hereafter pay'd me, do hereby

covenant and promise to and with the said Henry Herbert, his exôrs and

admôrs, that I will, from the day of the date hereof, untill the first

day of March next, well and sufficiently mayntayne and keepe a Spanile

Bitch named Quand, this day delivered into my custody by the said

Henry Herbert, and will, before the first day of March next, fully and

effectually traine up and teach the said Bitch to sitt Partridges,

Pheasants, and other game, as well and exactly as the best sitting

Doggers usually sett the same. And the said bitch, so trayned and

taught, shall and will delivere to the said Henry Herbert, or whom he

shall appoint to receive her, att his house in Ribbesford aforesaid,

on the first day of March next. And if at anytime after the said Bitch

shall, for want of use or practice, or orwise, forgett to sett Game as

aforesaid, I will, at my costes and charges, maynetayne her for a

month, or longer, as often as need shall require, to trayne up and

teach her to sett Game as aforesaid, and shall and will, fully and

effectually, teach her to sett Game as well and exactly as is above

mentyon'd.

Witness my hand and seal the day and year first above written,

John Harris, his X mark.

Sealed and delivered in presence of

H. Payne, his X mark."

L.]

The first person, however, who systematically broke-in setting dogs is

supposed to have been Dudley Duke of Northumberland in 1335.

A singular dog-cause was tried in Westminster, in July, 1822. At a

previous trial it was determined that the mere possession of a dog,

generally used for destroying game, was sufficient proof of its being

actually so used. Mr. Justice Best, however, determined that a man might

be a breeder of such dogs without using them as game-dogs; and Mr.

Justice Bailey thought that if a game-dog was kept in a yard, chained up

by day, and let loose at night, and, being so trained as to guard the

preimises, he was to be considered as a yard-dog, and not as a game-dog.

The setter is used for the same purpose as the pointer, and there is

great difference of opinion with regard to their relative value as

sporting-dogs. Setters are not so numerous; and they are dearer, and

with great difficulty obtained pure. It was long the fashion to cross

and mix them with the pointer, by which no benefit was obtained, but the

beauty of the dog materially impaired; many Irish sportsmen, however,

were exceedingly careful to preserve the breed pure. Nothing of the

pointer can be traced in them, and they are useful and beautiful dogs,

altogether different in appearance from either the English or Scotch

setter. The Irish sportsmen are, perhaps, a little too much prejudiced

with regard to particular colours. Their dogs ate either very red, or

red and white, or lemon-coloured, or white, patched with deep chestnut;

and it was necessary for them to have a black nose, and a black roof to

the mouth. This peculiar dye is supposed to be as necessary to a good

and genuine Irish setter as is the palate of a Blenheim spaniel to the

purity of his breed. A true Irish setter will obtain a higher price than

either an English or Scotch one. Fifty guineas constituted no unusual

price for a brace of them, and even two hundred guineas have been given.

It is nevertheless, doubtful whether they do in reality so much exceed

the other breeds, and whether, although stout and hard-working dogs, and

with excellent scent, they are not somewhat too headstrong and unruly.

The setter is more active than the pointer. He has greater spirit and

strength. He will better stand continued hard work. He will generally

take the water when necessary, and, retaining the character of the

breed, is more companionable and attached. He loves his master for

himself, and not, like the pointer, merely for the pleasure he shares

with him. His somewhat inferior scent, however, makes him a little too

apt to run into his game, and he occasionally has a will of his own. He

requires good breaking, and plenty of work; but that breaking must be of

a peculiar character: it must not partake of the severity which too

often accompanies, and unnecessarily so, the tuition of the pointer. He

has more animal spirit than the pointer, but he has not so much patient

courage; and the chastisement, sometimes unnecessary and cruel, but

leaving the pointer perfect in his work, and eager for it too, would

make the setter disgusted with it, and leave him a mere 'blinker'. It is

difficult, however, always to decide the claim of superiority between

these dogs. He that has a good one of either breed may be content, but

the lineage of that dog must be pure. The setter, with much of the

pointer in him, loses something in activity and endurance; and the

pointer, crossed with the setter, may have a degree of wildness and

obstinacy, not a little annoying to his owner. The setter may be

preferable when the ground is hard and rough; for he does not soon

become foot-sore. He may even answer the purpose of a springer for

pheasants and woodcocks, and may be valuable in recovering a wounded

bird. His scent may frequently be superior to that of the pointer, and

sufficiently accurate to distinguish, better than the pointer, when the

game is sprung; but the steadiness and obedience of the pointer will

generally give him the preference, especially in a fair and tolerably

smooth country. At the beginning of a season, and until the weather is

hot, the pointer will have a decided advantage.

[We beg leave to finish this history of the setter by referring to our

essay on this dog, published in vol. xv, No. 47, of the "New York Spirit

of the Times", or as lately transferred to the pages of an interesting

and valuable sporting work, about being published by our esteemed

friend, Wm. A. Porter, and from which we now abstract our remarks upon

THE MERITS OF THE SETTER COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE POINTER.

It cannot for a moment be doubted that the setter has superior

advantages to the pointer, for hunting over our uncleared country,

although the pointer has many qualities that recommend him to the

sportsman, that the setter does not possess. In the first place, the

extreme hardiness and swiftness of foot, natural to the setter, enables

him to get over much more ground than the pointer, in the same space of

time. Their feet also, being more hard and firm, are not so liable to

become sore from contact with our frozen ground. The ball pads being

well protected by the spaniel toe-tufts, are less likely to be wounded

by the thorns and burs with which our woods are crowded during the

winter season. His natural enthusiasm for hunting, coupled with his

superior physical powers, enables him to stand much more work than the

pointer, and oftentimes he appears quite fresh upon a long continued

hunt, when the other will be found drooping and inattentive.

The long, thick fur of the setter, enables him to wend his way through

briary thickets without injury to himself, when a similar attempt on the

part of a pointer, would result in his ears, tail, and body being

lacerated and streaming with blood.

On the other hand, the pointer is superior to the setter in retaining

his acquired powers for hunting, and not being naturally enthusiastic in

pursuit of game, he is more easily broken and kept in proper subjection.

The setter frequently requires a partial rebreaking at the commencement

of each season, in his younger days, owing to the natural eagerness with

which he resumes the sport. The necessity of this, however, diminishes

with age, as the character and habits of the dog become more settled,

and then we may take them into the field, with a perfect assurance of

their behaving quite as well on the first hunt of the season, as the

stanchest pointer would.

The extreme caution, and mechanical powers of the pointer in the field,

is a barrier to his flushing the birds, as is often witnessed in the

precipitate running of the setter, who winds the game and frequently

overruns it in his great anxiety to come up with it. But this occasional

fault on the part of the setter, may be counterbalanced by the larger

quantity of game that he usually finds in a day's hunt, owing to his

enthusiasm and swiftness of foot. Setters require much more water while

hunting than the pointer, owing to their thick covering of fur,

encouraging a greater amount of insensible perspiration to fly off than

the thin and short dress of the pointer. Consequently they are better

calculated to hunt in the coldest seasons than early in our falls, which

are frequently quite dry and warm.

A striking instance of this fact came under our own immediate

observation this fall, when shooting in a range of country thinly

settled and uncommonly dry. The day being warm and the birds scarce, the

dogs suffered greatly from thirst, in so much that a very fine setter of

uncommon bottom, was forced to give up entirely, completely prostrated,

foaming at the mouth in the most alarming manner, breathing heavily, and

vomiting from time to time a thick frothy mucus.

His prostration of both muscular and nervous powers was so great, that

he could neither smell nor take the slightest notice of a bird, although

placed at his nose. He could barely manage to drag one leg after the

other, stopping to rest every few moments, and we were fearful that we

should be obliged to shoulder and carry him to a farm-house, a

considerable distance off. However, he succeeded, with much difficulty,

in reaching the well, where he greedily drank several pints of water

administered to him with caution.

He recovered almost immediately, gave me a look of thanks, and was off

to the fields in a few moments, where he soon found a fine covey of

birds.

The pointer, his associate in the day's work, and a much less hardy dog,

stood the hunt remarkably well, and seemed to suffer little or no

inconvenience from the want of water. The setter has natural claims upon

the sportsman and man generally, in his affectionate disposition and

attachment to his master, and the many winning manners he exhibits

towards those by whom he is caressed.

The pointer displays but little fondness for those by whom he is

surrounded, and hunts equally as well for a stranger as his master.--L.]

Of the difference between the old English setter and the setters of the

present day, we confess that we are ignorant, except that the first was

the pure spaniel improved, and the latter the spaniel crossed too

frequently with the pointer.

It must be acknowledged, that of companionableness, and disinterested

attachment and gratitude, the pointer knows comparatively little. If he

is a docile and obedient servant in the field, it is all we want. The

setter is unquestionably his superior in every amiable quality. Mr.

Blaine says, that a large setter, ill with the distemper, had been

nursed by a lady more than three weeks. At length he became so ill as to

be placed in a bed, where he remained a couple of days in a dying state.

After a short absence, the lady, re-entering the room, observed him to

fix his eyes attentively on her, and make an effort to crawl across the

bed towards her. This he accomplished, evidently for the sole purpose of

licking her hand, after which he immediately expired.

[Daniel Lambert celebrated for his enormous magnitude, weighing seven

hundred and thirty-nine pounds, had a very superior breed of sellers,

which were publicly sold, at the following prices; after his death,

which forcibly illustrates the immense value placed on this dog in

England; whereas, many American sportsmen considers it a great hardship

to be obliged to give thirty or forty dollars for a well-bred setter in

this country.

Guineas

Peg, a black Setter Bitch..........................41

Punch, a Setter Dog..................................26

Brush, do ..........................................17

Bob, do............................................30

Bell, do........................................... 32

Bounce, do............................................22

Sam, do............................................26

Charlotte, a Pointer Bitch...............................22

Lucy, do............................................12

------

218 --L.]

The pointer is evidently descended from the hound.

[We beg leave to make the following extracts from our essay on this

subject, published in No. 1, vol. xvi, of the "Spirit of the Times":

The origin of the pointer, like that of the setter, is involved in much

obscurity; he is of mixed blood, and no doubt largely indebted to both

hound and spaniel for his distinct existence.

Many sportsmen are under the erroneous idea that the pointer is

contemporary with, if not older than, the Setter. Such, however, is not

the case; and we are led to believe that the Pointer is of quite modern

origin; at all events, the production of a much later date than the

spaniel.

Strut, in his "Sports and Pastimes", chap. 1, sects. xv. and xvi.,

mentions a MS. in the Cotton Library, originally written by William

Twici, or Twety, Grand Huntsman to Edward II, who ascended the throne in

1307.

This manuscript contains the earliest treatise on hunting that the

English possess, and enumerates the various kinds of game and different

species of dogs then in existence, as also the modes of taking the

former and using the latter.

After describing, in the usual minute manner, the specific employment of

each dog, he finishes by stating:

"The spaniel was for use in hawking, hys crafte is for the perdrich or

partridge, and the quail; and when taught to couch, he is very

serviceable to the fowler, who takes these birds with nets."

No mention is made in this treatise of the pointer, and we naturally

infer that he did not exist, or he would have been noticed in connexion

with the spaniel, who, it appears, even at this early period, was taught

to 'couch' on and point out game to those employed in netting it.

In the early portion of the sixteenth century, we have another

enumeration of dogs, 'then' in use, in a book entitled--"A Jewel for

Gentrie;" which, besides the dogs already descanted upon by Twici, we

find added to the list,

"bastards and mongrels, lemors, kenets, terrours, butchers' hounds,

dung-hill dogs, trindel-tailed dogs, prychercard curs, and ladies'

puppies."

(Chap. 1st., Sec. XVI.--Strut.)

The pointer being the offspring of the fox-hound and spaniel, is

consequently sprung from the two ancient races known as 'Sagaces' and

'Pugnaces' or 'Bellicosi'. He certainly evinces a larger share of the

'Bellicosi' blood than the setter, being ever ready for fight when

assailed, while the latter generally exhibits a conciliatory disposition

under the most trying circumstances.--L.]

It is the fox-hound searching for game by the scent, but more perfectly

under the control of the sportsman, repressing his cry of joy when he

finds his game, and his momentary pause, and gathering himself up in

order to spring upon it artificially, converted into a steady and

deliberate point. There still remains a strong resemblance, in

countenance and in form, between the pointer and the fox-hound, except

that the muzzle is shorter, and the ears smaller, and partly pendulous.

Seventy or eighty years ago, the breed of pointers was nearly white, or

varied with liver-coloured spots; some, however, belonging to the Duke

of Kingston, were perfectly black. This peculiarity of colour was

supposed to be connected with exquisite perfection of scent. That is not

the case with the present black pointers, who are not superior to any

others.

Mr. Daniel relates an anecdote of one of his pointers. He had a dog that

would always go round close to the hedges of a field before he would

quarter his ground. He seemed to have observed that he most frequently

found his game in the course of this circuit. [25]

Mr. Johnson gives the following characteristic sketches of the different

breeds of pointer:

THE SPANISH POINTER,

originally a native of Spain, was once considered to be a valuable dog.

He stood higher on his legs, but was too large and heavy in his limbs,

and had widely spread, ugly feet, exposing him to frequent lameness. His

muzzle and head were large, corresponding with the acuteness of his

smell. His ears were large and pendent, and his body ill-formed. He was

naturally an ill-tempered dog, growling at the hand that would caress

him, even although it were his master's. He stood steadily to his birds;

but it was difficult to break him of chasing the hare. He was deficient

in speed. His redeeming quality was his excellent scent, unequalled in

any other kind of dog.

[To convince our readers of the value of this particular breed, we may

mention the very singular sale of Colonel Thornton's dog Dash, who was

purchased by Sir Richard Symons for one hundred and sixty pounds worth

of champagne and burgundy, a hogshead of of claret, and an elegant gun

and another pointer, with a stipulation that if any accident befell the

dog, he was to be returned to his former owner for fifty guineas. Dash

unfortunately broke his leg, and in accordance with the agreement of

sale was returned to the Colonel, who considered him a fortunate

acquisition as a stallion to breed from. (See Blain or Daniel).--L.]

THE PORTUGESE POINTER,

although with a slighter form than the Spanish one, is defective in the

feet, often crooked in the legs, and of a quarrelsome disposition. He

soon tires, and is much inclined to chase the hare. The tail is larger

than that of the spaniel, and fully fringed.

THE FRENCH POINTER

is distinguished by a furrow between his nostrils, which materially

interferes with the acuteness of smell. He is better formed and more

active than either the Spanish or Portugese dog, and capable of longer

continued exertion; but he is apt to be quarrelsome, and is too fond of

chasing the hare.

[We will close this account of the Pointer by transferring from the

pages of the "Spirit of the Times" our remarks upon this particular

breed.

The French variety, as described by English authors, is much smaller

than either of the above breeds; and although possessed of great beauty,

acute scent, and other qualifications that would render him valuable in

their eyes, still is considered much inferior, not being able to cope

with their dogs in hunting, owing to a want of physical power of

endurance.

Youatt states, that he is distinguished by a furrow in his nose, which

materially interferes with his acuteness of smell.

These accounts do not agree with the French writers, to whom, it is very

true, the English should not look for any particular information

respecting hunting or shooting. Nevertheless, all must admit that they

are quite as capable of describing their particular breeds of animals as

other nations; and, in fact, we might go farther, and say that they are

much more competent to the task than English writers, judging from their

extensive knowledge in comparative anatomy, and their long array of

celebrated writers on natural history--the Cuviers, Buffon, &c.

'Baudrillart', in his 'Dictionnaire des Chases', describes the French

Pointer as having endurance and great industry, and of their being used

oftentimes solely for 'la grande chasse'. In the atlas of plates

accompanying this interesting work, will be found two distinct and

extremely correct drawings of the English Pointer, and also an engraving

of the French variety, which latter, certainly, is represented as being

equally, if not more muscular and and hardy, than the English.

As for the furrow in the nose, as mentioned by Youatt, no reference is

made to it in connection with this species, and in the engraving the

nose is square. But in describing another variety, known in France as

coming from Spain, 'Baudrillart' states, that they are vulgarly called

"à deux nez, parceque ce chien a les narines separées par une gouttiere."

As for Mr. Youatt's declaration in reference to the furrow in the nose

"materially interfering with the acuteness of smell," I cannot

understand how, or on what principle of reasoning, this slight deviation

from nature should affect the properties of the olfactory apparatus.

That these furrow-nosed dogs are inferior to the English in scenting

powers, as stated by Mr. Youatt, we do not question; but that their

deficiency depends upon this furrow, remains to be proved.

This furrow in the nose is merely a deformity, and like many others in

various breeds of animals, was solely the result of accident in the

first place; and as we often see, even in the human species, the

deformities and infirmities of our ancestors entailed upon their

progeny, so has this 'cut in the nose' been so extensively inherited by

succeeding generations, that it has now become a distinctive mark of a

whole class of dogs.

The French Pointer, as known in this country, is a beautiful,

well-shaped, compact, square-nosed dog; not so long or high as the

English, but extremely well built, full-chested, large head, pendent

ears, projecting eyes, large feet, and thickish tail. His colour, seldom

white, but generally intermingled with small spots of brown or chocolate

over the body, and more particularly over the head and ears. Such a dog

is in the possession of the writer, who knows nothing of his ancestry;

but is convinced from those he saw in France, that they must have been

imported from that country.

The English Pointer will now claim more particularly our attention. It

is quite useless to go into a general description of an animal of whom

we have already said much, and with whom we are all familiar; but we

will endeavour to mention the most striking points of the species, which

marks can be referred to as guides in the purchase of a dog.

It is a difficult matter to put on paper, in a manner satisfactory

either to the reader or writer, the peculiarities of any animal, whereby

he may be judged pure or mixed. However, there are, generally, some few

points in each species, that can be selected as proofs of their

genuineness and ability to perform certain actions peculiar to the race.

But, after all, more reliance must be placed upon the good faith of the

seller, or the previous knowledge of the strain from which the purchaser

selects--and what is better than either, from actual observation in the

field; all of which precautions may, nevertheless, prove abortive, and

our dog be worthless.

As regards the size of the English Pointer, we may say, that he averages

in length about 3 feet from the tip of the muzzle to the base of the

tail, and from 22 to 26 inches high. His head not bulky nor too narrow,

the frontal sinuses largely developed.

The muzzle long and rather tapering, the nostrils large and well open,

the ear slightly erect, not over long, and the tip triangular; if too

pendent, large and rounded at the tip, there is too much of the hound

present. The eyes lively, but not too prominent; the neck rather long

and not over thick, the chest broad, the limbs large and muscular; the

paws strong, hard and wide. The body and loins thin, rather than bulky,

the hind quarters broad, and the limbs in the same proportion with the

fore members; the tail long and tapering.--L.]

THE RUSSIAN POINTER

is a rough, ill-tempered animal, with too much tendency to stupidity,

and often annoyed by vermin. He runs awkwardly, with his nose near the

ground, and frequently springs his game. He also has the cloven or

divided nose.

THE EARLY TRAINING OF THE DOG.

The education of these dogs should commence at an early period, whether

conducted by the breeder or the sportsman; and the first lesson--that on

which the value of the animal, and the pleasure of its owner, will much

depend--is a habit of subjection on the part of the dog, and kindness on

the part of the master. This is a 'sine quâ non'. The dog must recognise

in his owner a friend and a benefactor. This will soon establish in the

mind of the quadruped a feeling of gratitude, and a desire to please.

All this is natural to the dog, if he is encouraged by the master, and

then the process of breaking-in may commence in good earnest.

No long time probably passes ere the dog commits some little fault. He

is careless, or obstinate, or cross. The owner puts on a serious

countenance, he holds up his finger, or shakes his head, or produces the

whip, and threatens to use it. Perhaps the infliction of a blow, that

breaks no bones, occasionally follows. In the majority of cases nothing

more is required. The dog succumbs; he asks to be forgiven; or, if he

has been self-willed, he may be speedily corrected without any serious

punishment.

A writer, under the signature of "Soho," in The New Sporting Magazine

for 1833, gives an interesting account of the schooling of the pointer

or setter, thus commenced. A short abstract from it may not be

unacceptable:

"The first lesson inculcated is that of passive obedience, and this

enforced by the infliction of severity as little as the case will

admit. We will suppose the dog to be a setter. He is taken into the

garden or into a field, and a strong cord, about eighteen or twenty

yards long, is tied to his collar. The sportsman calls the dog to him,

looks earnestly at him, gently presses him to the ground, and several

times, with a loud, but not an angry voice, says, 'Down!' or 'Down

charge!' The dog knows not the meaning of this, and struggles to get

up; but, as often as he struggles, the cry of 'Down charge!' is

repeated, and the pressure is continued or increased.

"This is repeated a longer or shorter time, until the dog, finding

that no harm is meant, quietly submits. He is then permitted to rise;

he is patted and caressed, and some food is given to him. The command

to rise is also introduced by the terms 'Hie up!' A little afterwards

the same process is repeated, and he struggles less, or perhaps ceases

altogether to struggle.

"The person whose circumstances permit him occasionally to shoot over

his little demesne, may very readily educate his dog without having

recourse to keepers or professional breakers, among whom he would

often be subject to imposition. Generally speaking, no dog is half so

well broken as the one whose owner has taken the trouble of training

him. The first and grand thing is to obtain the attachment of the dog,

by frequently feeding and caressing him, and giving him little hours

of liberty under his own inspection; but, every now and then,

inculcating a lesson of obedience, teaching him that every gambol must

be under the control of his master; frequently checking him in the

midst of his riot with the order of 'Down charge!' patting him when he

is instantly obedient; and rating, or castigating him, but not too

severely, when there is any reluctance to obey. 'Passive obedience

is the first principle, and from which no deviation should be

allowed.' [26]

"Much kindness and gentleness are certainly requisite when breaking-in

the puppy, whether it be a pointer or a setter. There is heedlessness

in the young dog which is not readily got rid of until age has given

him experience. He must not, however, be too severely corrected, or he

may be spoiled for life. If considerable correction is sometimes

necessary, it should be followed, at a little distance of time, by

some kind usage. The memory of the suffering will remain; but the

feeling of attachment to the master will also remain, or rather be

increased. The temper of a young dog must be almost as carefully

studied as that of a human being. Timidity may be encouraged, and

eagerness may be restrained, but affection must be the tie that binds

him to his master, and renders him subservient to his will.

"The next portion of the lesson is more difficult to learn. He is no

longer held by his master, but suffered to run over the field,

seemingly at his pleasure, when, suddenly, comes the warning 'Down!'

He perhaps pays no attention to it, but gambols along until seized by

his master, forced on the ground, and the order of 'Down!' somewhat

sternly uttered.

"After a while he is suffered again to get up. He soon forgets what

has occurred, and gallops away with as much glee as ever. Again the

'Down!' is heard, and again little or no attention is paid to it. His

master once more lays hold of him and forces him on the ground, and

perhaps inflicts a slight blow or two, and this process continues

until the dog finds that he must obey the command of 'Down charge!'

"The owner will now probably walk from him a little way backward with

his hand lifted up. If the dog makes the slightest motion, he must be

sharply spoken to, and the order peremptorily enforced.

"He must then be taught to 'back,' that is, to come behind his master

when called. When he seems to understand all this, he is called by his

master in a kindly tone, and patted and caressed. It is almost

incredible how soon he will afterwards understand what he is ordered

to do, and perform it.

"It will be seen by this that no one should attempt to break-in a dog

who is not possessed of patience and perseverance. The sportsman must

not expect to see a great deal of improvement from the early lessons.

The dog will often forget that which was inculcated upon him a few

hours before; but perseverance and kindness will effect much: the

first lessons over, the dog, beginning to perceive a little what is

meant, will cheerfully and joyfully do his duty.

"When there is much difficulty in teaching the dog his lesson, the

fault lies as often with the master as with him; or they are,

generally speaking, both in fault. Some dogs cannot be mastered but by

means of frequent correction. The less the sportsman has to do with

them the better. Others will not endure the least correction, but

become either ferocious or sulky. They should be disposed of as soon

as possible. The majority of dogs are exceedingly sagacious. They

possess strong reasoning powers; they understand, by intuition, almost

every want and wish of their master, and they deserve the kindest and

best usage.

"The scholar being thus prepared, should be taken into the field,

either alone, or, what is considerably better, with a well-trained,

steady dog. When the old dog makes a point, the master calls out,

'Down!' or 'Soho!' and holds up his hand, and approaches steadily to

the birds; and, if the young one runs in or prepares to do so, as

probably he will at first, he again raises his hand and calls out,

'Soho!' If the youngster pays no attention to this, the whip must be

used, and in a short time he will be steady enough at the first

intimation of game.

"If he springs any birds without taking notice of them, he should be

dragged to the spot from which they rose, and, 'Soho!' being cried,

one or two sharp strokes with the whip should be inflicted. If he is

too eager, he should be warned to 'take heed.' If he 'rakes' or runs

with his nose near the ground, he should be admonished to 'hold up',

and, if he still persists, the 'muzzle-peg' may be resorted to. Some

persons fire over the dog for running at hares: but this is wrong;

for, besides the danger of wounding or even killing the animal, he

will for some time afterwards he frightened at the sound, or even at

the very sight of a gun. The best plan to accustom dogs to the gun, is

occasionally to fire one off when they are being fed.

"Some persons let their dog fetch the dead birds. This is very wrong.

Except the sportsman has a double-barrelled gun, the dog should not be

suffered to move until the piece is again charged. The young one,

until he is thoroughly broken of it, is too apt to run in whether the

bird is killed or not, and which may create much mischief by

disturbing the game.

"Although excessive punishment should not be administered, yet no

fault, however small, should pass without reproof: on the other hand,

he should be rewarded, but not too lavishly, for every instance of

good conduct.

"When the dog is grown tolerably steady, and taught to come at the

call, he should also learn to range and quarter his ground. Let some

clear morning, and some place where the sportsman is likely to meet

with game, be selected. Station him where the wind will blow in his

face; wave your hand and cry, 'Heigh on, good dog!' Then let him go

off to the right, about seventy or eighty yards. After this, call him

in by another wave of the hand, and let him go the same distance to

the left. Walk straight forward with your eye always upon him; then,

let him continue to cross from right to left, calling him in at the

limit of each range.

"This is at first a somewhat difficult lesson, and requires careful

teaching. The same ground is never to be twice passed over. The

sportsman watches every motion, and the dog is never trusted out of

sight, or allowed to break fence. When this lesson is tolerably

learned, and on some good scenting morning early in the season, he may

take the field, and perhaps find. Probably he will be too eager, and

spring his game. Make him 'down' immediately, and take him to the

place where the birds rose. Chide him with 'Steady!' 'How dare you!'

Use no whip; but scold him well, and be assured that he will be more

cautious. If possible, kill on the next chance. The moment the bird is

down, he will probably rush in and seize it. He must be met with the

same rebuff, 'Down charge!' If he does not obey, he deserves to have,

and will have, a stroke with the whip. The gun being again charged,

the bird is sought for, and the dog is suffered to see it and play

with it for a minute before it is put into the bag.

"He will now become thoroughly fond of the sport, and his fondness

will increase with each bird that is killed. At every time, however,

whether he kills or misses, the sportsman should make the dog 'Down

charge.' and never allow him to rise until he has loaded.

"If a hare should be wounded, there will, occasionally, be

considerable difficulty in preventing him from chasing her. The best

broken and steadiest dog cannot always be restrained from running

hares. He must be checked with 'Ware chase,' and, if he does not

attend, the sportsman must wait patiently. He will by-and-by come

slinking along with his tail between his legs, conscious of his fault.

It is one, however, that admits of no pardon. He must be secured, and,

while the field echoes with the cry of 'Ware chase,' he must be

punished to a certain but not too great extent. The castigation must

be repeated as often as he offends; or, if there is much difficulty in

breaking him of the habit, he must be got rid of."

The breaking-in or subjugation of pointers and setters is a very

important, and occasionally a difficult affair; the pleasure of the

sportsman, however, depends on it. The owner of any considerable

property will naturally look to his keeper to furnish him with dogs on

which he may depend, and he ought not to be disappointed; for those

which belong to other persons, or are brought at the beginning of the

season, whatever account the breaker or the keeper of them may give,

will too often be found deficient.

THE OTTER HOUND

used to be of a mingled breed, between the southern hound and the rough

terrier, and in size between the harrier and the fox-hound. The head

should be large and broad, the shoulders and quarters thick, and the

hair strong, wiry, and rough. They used to be kept in small packs, for

the express purpose of hunting the otter.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, otter-hunting was a favourite amusement

in several parts of Great Britain. Many of our streams then abounded

with this destructive animal; but, since the population are more

numerous, and many contrivances are adopted to ensnare and destroy

otters, few are now to be found.

THE TURNSPIT

This dog was once a valuable auxiliary in the kitchen, by turning the

spit before jacks were invented. It had a peculiar length of body, with

short crooked legs, the tail curled, its ears long and pendent, and the

head large in proportion to the body. It is still used in the kitchen on

various parts of the Continent. There are some curious stories of the

artfulness with which he often attempted to avoid the task imposed upon

him.

There is a variety of this dog; the crooked-legged turnspit.

[Footnote 1: 'Historical and Descriptive Sketches of British America',

by J. Macgregor]

[Footnote 2: 'Journal Historique du Voyage de M. de Lesseps', Paris,

1790. 2 vols.--tome 1.]

[Footnote 3: Clarke's 'Scandinavia', vol. i. p. 432.]

[Footnote 4: The migratory sheep, in some parts of the south of France

almost as numerous as in Spain, are attended by a GOAT, as a

guide; and the intelligence and apparent pride which he displays are

remarkable.]

[Footnote 5: 'Trimmer on the Merinos', p. 50. See also the Society's

work on Sheep.]

[Footnote 6: 'Annals of Sporting', vol. viii. p. 83.]

[Footnote 7:

"The Ettrick Shepherd has probably spoken somewhat too

enthusiastically of his dog; but accounts of the sagacity and almost

superhuman fidelity of this dog crowd so rapidly upon us that we are

compelled to admire and to love him."

'Hogg's Shepherd's Calendar', vol. ii. p. 308.]

[Footnote 8: 'Jesse's Gleanings', vol. i. p. 93].

[Footnote 9: 'Buffon's Natural History', vol. v. p. 314.]

[Footnote 10: 'Travels in Scotland', by the Rev. J. Hall, vol. ii. p.

395.]

[Footnote 11: 'Annals of Sporting', vol. v. p. 137.]

[Footnote 12: Mr Beckford at one time determined to try how he should

like the use of beagles, and, having heard of a small pack of them, he

sent his coachman, the person he could best spare, to fetch them. It was

a long journey, and, although he had some assistance, yet not being used

to hounds, he had some trouble in getting them along, especially as they

had not been out of the kennel for several weeks before. They were

consequently so riotous that they ran after everything they saw, sheep,

cur dogs, birds of all sorts, as well as hares and deer. However, he

lost but one hound; and, when Mr. Beckford asked him what he thought of

them, he said that they could not fail of being good hounds, for they

would hunt everything.]

[Footnote 13: 'Beckford on Hunting', p. 150.]

[Footnote 14: 'The Horse and the Hound', by Nimrod, p. 340.]

[Footnote 15: 'The Horse and the Hound', by Nimrod, p, 332.]

[Footnote 16: 'Daniel's Foxhound', p. 205.]

[Footnote 17: 'The Horse and the Hound', by Nimrod, p. 355.]

[Footnote 18: 'Beckford's Thoughts on Hunting', p. 95.]

[Footnote 19: Mr. Beckford gives the following excellent account of what

a huntsman should be:

"A huntsman should be attached to the sport, and indefatigable, young,

strong, active, bold, and enterprising in the pursuit of it. He should

be sensible, good-tempered, sober, exact, and cleanly--a good groom

and an excellent horseman. His voice should be strong and clear, with

an eye so quick as to perceive which of his hounds carries the scent

when all are running, and an ear so excellent as to distinguish the

leading hounds when he does not see them. He should be quiet, patient,

and without conceit. Such are the qualities which constitute

perfection in a huntsman. He should not, however, be too fond of

displaying them until called forth by necessity; it being a peculiar

and distinguishing trait in his character to let his hounds alone

while they thus hunt, and have genius to assist them when they

cannot."

'Beckford on Hunting', Letter ix.]

[Footnote 20: 'Blaine on the Diseases of the Dog', p. 140.]

[Footnote 21: See 'Hints to Young Masters of Fox-Hounds'--'New Sport.

Mag.', vol. viii. p. 174-290.]

[Footnote 22: 'Traité de la Folie dex Animaux', tom. ii. 39.]

[Footnote 23: Mr. D. Radcliffe.]

[Footnote 24: The late Lord Oxford reduced four stags to so perfect a

degree of submission that, in his short excursions, he used to drive

them in a phaeton made for the purpose. He was one day exercising his

singular and beautiful steeds in the neighbourhood of Newmarket, when

their ears were saluted with the unwelcome cry of a pack of hounds,

which, crossing the road in their rear, had caught the scent, and

leaving their original object of pursuit, were now in rapid chase of the

frightened stags. In vain his grooms exerted themselves to the utmost,

the terrified animals bounded away with the swiftness of lightning, and

entered Newmarket at full speed. They made immediately for the Ram Inn,

to which his lordship was in the habit of driving, and, having

fortunately entered the yard without any accident, the stable-keepers

huddled his lordship, the phaeton, and the deer into a large barn, just

in time to save them from the hounds, who came into the yard in full cry

a few seconds afterwards.

('Annals of Sporting', vol. iii. 1833.)]

[Footnote 25: The author of the 'Field Book' says that he saw an

extremely small pointer, whose length, from the tip of the nose to the

point of the tail, was only two feet and half an inch, the length of the

head being six inches, and round the chest one foot and three inches. He

was an exquisite miniature of the English pointer, being in all respects

similar to him, except in his size. His colour was white, with dark

liver-coloured patches on each side of the head, extending half down the

neck. The ears, with some patches on the back, were also of the same

colour, and numerous small dark-brown spots appeared over his whole body

and legs.

This beautiful little animal had an exquisite sense of smell. Some of

the same breed, and being the property of the Earl of Lauderdale, were

broken-in and made excellent pointers, although, from their minute size,

it could not be expected that they would be able to do much work. When

intent upon any object, the dog assumed the same attitude as other

pointers, holding up one of his feet.

('The Field Book', p. 399.)]

[Footnote 26: Another writer in the same volume gives also an

interesting account of the management of the setter.]

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