CHAPTER XL 



WITH THE DEVON AND SOMEESET STAGHOUNDS. 



lAKING the opportunity of a leisure day 

 to visit the kennels of the Devon and 

 Somerset, I drove over to Exford, where 

 I found Arthur Heal established in a new 

 range of buildings, admirably adapted for the health 

 of his pack, every attention having been given to 

 the necessary details for insuring comfort to the 

 animals as well as the huntsman, who has a house 

 adjoining the kennels, where we found him ready 

 and willing to show both the old and new packs 

 that are placed imder his charge. First we are 

 shown the remains of the old pack, sixteen couples 

 and a-half having been saved from the ravages 

 of the outbreaks of rabies from which they have 

 suffered, no less than twelve couples of these valu- 

 able animals having fallen victims to the attack of 

 hydrophobia, which at one time threatened destruc- 

 tion to the whole pack. These we found in a range of 

 ordinary dog kennels, every hound being tied up and 

 isolated from the fresh hounds that have been secured 

 to recruit the strength of the pack, and replace those 

 who have been lost through this cruel malady. 



