XEICIinOURISC PACKS. 205 



Tlie Cheshire Tleaeles are forlunate in Iiaving among tlieir members one 

 who, like W. E. Hall usetl to be with the Rock Beagles, is at once an 

 efficient whip and a valuable coadjutor to the Master in all affairs of the 

 kennels and the field. Mr. Percy Roberts is well known with the Cheshire 

 Beagles ; in fact if he is not present at a meet, which is very seldom, a blank 

 is felt by all. No matter how good the sport, there is something wanting if 

 he is not there to talk over the events of the day in his usual genial way. 



The present ATaster, A. Blain, is a capital runner, and is able to kee[) 

 with his hounds except on very rare occasions, and then no one else is there. 

 Sometimes a noted ten-mile runner comes out with the hounds, and if scent 

 is good he finds it a hard task to leave the Master behind him. 



It is given to few men to attain the brilliant position of a Master of 

 Hounds at so early an age as A. Blain has done ; and there is every prospect, 

 if he retains his interest i:i the sport tlirough a long life, that he will beat the 

 record in the length of time during which he has been Master. Those of us 

 who may live to see it will be glad to celebrate his jubilee as Master of the 

 Cheshire Beagles. 



The opposite illustration shows this pack of hounds at a meet at Crewe. 

 The Master, C. "\\'. Smith, is in the foreground of tlie picture on the left, 

 facing the huntsman, Howarth, on the right. In the centre appears Percy 

 Roberts, with his whip. The present Master, A. Blain, is on the extreme 

 left of the picture, the other portraits, from left to right, being Stuart 

 E. Smyth, N. Caine, C. B. Royds, George Barker, H. Smyth, General Willis, 

 and the two little daughters of Lord Houghton, the Rev. I'. Gunton, 

 Tiios. Cartlick (Master of '.he Woore Beagles), C. Smith, Jun., — Jamieson, 

 E. C. Kendall, H. B. Scott, and W. PJckford. 



Of the hounds, Sailor is the black hound in the forefront, Critic and 

 Careless on the extreme left, and Active between the feet of Percy Roberts. 

 The bright-looking hound under C. Smith, Jun.'s stick is Sparkle. On either 

 side of Sailor's head appear Wagtail and Jollity. Beneath Jamieson's stick 

 is Marvellous, with Victory on his left, wliile Comely occupies the front. 

 under Jamieson's left leg, and Merry Lass under Kendall's right leg. 



The pack consists generally of from 16 to 20 cou[)les of hounds about 

 15-^^ inches. The prevailing colour is l)lack and white, and tan aixl white, 

 with a few dark hounds without tan, and one or two blue mottled. They 

 are a very level lot, and keep well together in hunting. 



The JNLaster breeds a good number of pujipies, and usually has nine or 

 ten couples at walk with tlie farmers of his district. He offers prizes, three 

 §ilver cups, for the best puppies, and has inaugurated an annual institution 

 f lunch at the kennels on the judging day, which is well attended. He 

 as been very successful in winning prizes at the Peterborough Show, this 

 year gaining the prize for best couple unentered hounds and for cham{)ion 

 dog. 



