INTRODUCTION 



It is not very often, I think, that a sportsman who 

 is not a Master of Hounds is more deeply interested 

 in the breeding and pedigree lore of the foxhound 

 than my old friend, the writer of these pages. 



That being the case, it was, perhaps, very natural 

 that he should endeavour, by his writings, to create 

 a wider interest in the foxhound in the minds of 

 those who follow him — an interest which may induce 

 them to give to that noble animal the fair play, 

 when in chase, that he deserves — and by doing so 

 help to lighten the burden of the M.F.H., who cannot 

 be expected to attend to the hunting education of 

 his field, in addition to his many other duties. 



In every sport and in every game the beginner, 

 however keen he may be, is bound to make mis- 

 takes. For instance, at polo, in his first season he will 

 probably get a decision for "off-side" given against 

 him, and so penalise his own side. A tyro at fishing 

 will, to start with, no doubt muddle himself up with 

 his own cast, or fix it firmly in the nearest tree. But 

 it is reasonable to expect that after a year or two's 

 experience, even though the beginner may not have 

 arrived at the top of the tree in the particular branch 

 of sport that he desires to follow, he will, at all 



