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that old oatmeal is the recognised food of hounds, though Indian meal is an excellent substitute. After boiling the flesh till the meat leaves the bones readily, take all out with a pitchfork, and put it to cool, skin all the fat off the broth, and fill up with water to the proper quantity; next mix the meal carefully with cold water, and then pour this into the hot broth, keeping it constantly stirred till it thickens; after which it should be boiled very gently till it has been on the fire for half an hour, continuing the stirring to prevent its burning. Lastly, draw the fire and ladle out the stuff into the coolers, where it remains till it has set, when it acquires the name with the solidity of "puddings." There should always be two qualities made, one better than the other for the more delicate hounds, which must be apportioned by the huntsman properly among them. This may be reduced with cold broth, when wanted, to any degree of thinness; and the meat, being cut or torn up, is mixed with it.

In feeding the hounds, the huntsman, having the troughs supplied with the different qualities of food, orders the door to be thrown open which communicates with the lodging-room; then, having the hounds under proper control, they all wait till each is called by name, the huntsman pronouncing each name in a decided tone, and generally summoning two or three couple at a time, one after the other. When these have had what he considers sufficient, they are dismissed and others called in their turn; the gross feeders being kept to the last, when the best and most nourishing part has been eaten. By thus accustoming hounds in kennel to wait their proper turn, and to come when called, a

control is obtained out of doors which could never be accomplished in any other way. Once a week, on a non-hunting day in the winter, and every three or four days in the summer, some green food, or potatoes or turnips, should be boiled up with the puddings, and serves to cool the hounds very considerably. If this is attended to very little physic is required, except from accidental

causes.

A regular dressing and physicking is practised in some kennels, the former to keep the skin free from vermin and eruptions, and the latter with the same view, but also to cool the blood. This is by no means necessary, if great care is taken with regard to cleanliness, feeding, and exercise; and in the royal kennels neither one nor the other is practised, excepting when disease actually appears, and not as a preventive measure. When it is considered desirable to adopt either or both, directions for their use will be found given in the next Book.

POINTERS AND SETTERS.

These dogs do not require a covered yard, and may be treated in all respects like hounds, the only difference being in regard to numbers. More than three or four brace should not be kept together if it can be avoided, as they are apt to quarrel when not thoroughly exercised or worked, and then a whole lot

will fall upon one and tear him almost to pieces. The rules of cleanliness, feeding, &c., are the same as for hounds.

SINGLE DOGS KENNELLED OUT OF DOORS.

Where a single dog is kept chained up to what is called a kennel, care should be taken to pave the ground on which he lies, unless he can be moved every month, or still more frequently, as in course of time his urine stains the ground so much as to produce disease. It should always be borne in mind that the dog requires more exercise than he can take when chained up, and he should therefore be set at liberty for an hour or two daily, or at all events every other day.

HOUSE DOGS.

The great bane of dogs which are at liberty to run through the house is that they are constantly receiving bits from their kitchen, as well as from their parlour, friends. The dog's stomach is peculiarly unfitted for this increasing demand upon it, and, if the practice is adopted, it is sure to end in disease before many years

are passed. The rule should be strictly enforced, to avoid feeding more than once or twice daily, at regular hours, and then the quantity and quality should be proportioned to the size of the dog and to the amount of exercise which he takes. About one twentieth to one twelfth of the weight of the dog is the proper amount of food, and all beyond this is improper in most cases, though of course there are some exceptions. Dogs are very cleanly animals, and often refuse to dirty a carpet or even a clean floor; they should therefore be turned out at proper times to relieve themselves, the neglect of which is cruel, as well as injurious to the health. I have known dogs retain their excretions for days together, rather than expose themselves to the anger which they think they should incur, and I believe some high-couraged animals would almost die before they would make a mess. Long-haired dogs, when confined to the house, are apt to smell disagreeably if they have much flesh, and they should therefore be chiefly fed upon oatmeal porridge, with very little flavouring of broth or meat mixed up with it.

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CHAPTER IV.

BREAKING AND ENTERING.

The Entering of the Greyhound and Deerhound.-Of Foxhounds and Harriers.— Breaking the Pointer and Setter.-The Retriever (Land and Water).—The Spaniel. The Vermin Dog.

WITH the exception of the greyhound, sporting dogs require some considerable education to the sport in which they are to be engaged. Unlike the hound and the dogs intended for the gun, greyhounds have only their instinctive desires to be developed, and as no restraint is at any time placed upon these, except that depending upon mechanical means which they cannot get rid of, nature has uncontrolled sway. Hence their entering is a very easy process; nevertheless, there are some precautions to be taken which it is necessary to describe. The deerhound, as well as the greyhound, is held in slips, a single one being used for him, and a double slip, or pair of slips as it is called, for the two greyhounds which form the complement for coursing the hare, a greater number being considered unfair, and therefore unsportsmanlike. These slips are so made that by pulling a string the neck-strap is loosed, and the two dogs are let go exactly at the same moment. They are always used in public coursing, but in private the greyhounds are sometimes suffered

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