Hunting the Wild Stag, 85 



The origin of the outbreak was traceable to two 

 of the hounds which had Avandered from the pack 

 being shut up with a sheep-dog that was suffering 

 from hydrophobia, who bit them, and thus intro- 

 duced the destructive complaint into the kennels. 

 The possibility of a fresh outbreak having to be 

 guarded against, though, in my opinion, such a 

 misfortune is rendered highly improbable, owing to 

 the great precautions that have been taken to stamp 

 out the disease, the two packs are kept separate, 

 not only in the kennels, but in the field as well. 

 Amongst these old hounds some notable animals are 

 to be found, and those who should visit them will 

 find Forager, Claret, and Dreadnought, as well as 

 Wellington, Blandf(jrd, and Warrior, the latter my 

 choice, as fine specimens of staghouuds as can be 

 desired. 



After examining the seniors, we entered the ken- 

 nels, and found twenty-seven couples of fine young 

 hounds, drafts from some of the most celebrated 

 packs in the kingdom, which have to learn how to 

 follow the wild red deer instead of chasing the wily 

 fox, for which they have been bred. Some time 

 necessarily will elapse before they take to their 

 new pursuit. Hence the difficulty which Arthur 

 has experienced in showing the usual amount of 

 sport during the few days of the present season on 

 which they have been out. For more than twenty 

 years Arthur Heal has hunted this country, and it will 

 be strange if he does not teach them their business 

 in a very brief space of time. 



Amongst the most striking of the twenty-seven 

 couples which were shown, a high-coloured hound, 



