THE HOUND. 105 



had, perhaps, better be reduced, than a greater 

 number of Hounds be kept. The reason they al- 

 lege for this is, that, when a pack is very extensive, 

 the Hounds are seldom sufficiently hunted to be 

 good. Twenty-five couple of Hounds are said to 

 be, at any time, sufficient to be taken into the 

 field. Supposing them to be steady, and nearly 

 equal in speed, they are a match for any Fox. Too 

 many Hounds always do more mischief than service. 



The speed of a Fox-hound generally begins to 

 fail after he has run for five or six seasons; though 

 there is no saying, with certainty, what number of 

 years a good Hound will last. A spayed bitch, 

 called Lily, ran at the head of old Mr. Panton's 

 Hounds, at Newmarket, for ten seasons. But this is 

 considered as a singular instance of undiminished 

 speed. 



In ascertaining the speed of Fox-hounds, that 

 pack is to be considered the fleetest, which can run 

 ten miles in the shortest time ; notwithstanding the 

 Hounds, separately, may not be so speedy as many 

 others. 



The Duke of Richmond's Hounds, in January, 

 173S 9, found a Fox at a quarter before eight 

 o'clock, and killed it at ten minutes before six, after 

 ten hours' constant running. Many gentlemen 

 tired three horses each. Only eleven couple and 

 a half of the Hounds were in at the death*. 



* Daniel's Rural Sports, i. p. 150. 



On 



