94 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



breed would probably dwindle below the mark, 

 that is, if no very large hounds existed to breed 

 from, as in all other tame animals ; and however 

 prejudiced persons may be against large hounds, 

 or however indifferent they may be about appear- 

 ances in general, still they must all agree in opinion, 

 that a pack of fox-hounds should look like a pack 

 of fox-hounds. It may be said with truth that 

 a pack of dwarf fox-hounds, not larger than 

 harriers, will kill as many foxes as a full-sized 

 pack, if equal attention has been paid to the blood ; 

 but, in the present age and rage for riding, half 

 of these small hounds would be ridden over in 

 countries where the banks are high and ditches 

 wide, for they cannot take them in their spring, 

 and often fall backwards, and keep pulling each 

 other backwards, causing much delay, and re- 

 quiring more patience than men have, consequently 

 they would be ridden over. Neither can small 

 hounds go through deep wet land so well as a 

 large, fair-sized hound ; particularly where the 

 water stands, as it does, in the winter, in the New 

 Forest and other parts, which would reach up to 

 the bodies of small hounds, and they would be 

 swimming great part of the time. 



The object of all masters and breeders of hounds 

 is to acquire power, combined with other good 

 qualities ; but it is to be regretted that there is 



