FEEDER
—is one essential part of a HUNTING ESTABLISHMENT, bearing no ill affinity to the bellows-blower of an ORGANIST; for if the hounds are not well and properly fed, they can never be adequate to the fatigues and difficulties they have to go through. To the FEEDER is submitted the management of the HOUNDS in kennel; but he is always subject to the occasional directions of the HUNTSMAN, whose immediate subordinate he is, and whose dictation he must implicitly obey. He should not only be young, indefatigable, and alert, but fond of his employment; as well as humane and good tempered, for the comfort of the poor animals entrusted to his care, who have not the power to expostulate when ill used, or to remonstrate if their grievances stand in need of redress.
The department of the FEEDER is of more magnitude than may at first sight be believed. It is his particular business to keep THE KENNEL sweet and clean, and to execute this part of his trust at stated and invariable periods. To boil, prepare, and mix the different kinds of provision for the HOUNDS, according to the regulations of the establishment to which he belongs. When disengaged from the concerns of the kennel, he is expected to assist in the stables; as well as to exercise and dress the spare horses of the HUNTSMAN and WHIPPER-IN, on hunting days when they are absent. In extensive concerns, and large packs, two are required to FEED, in which case the HUNTSMAN (as is most proper) always renders assistance.