A SMOKING-ROOM PALAVER 337 



hound to be fine noses and stout runners " ; his object 

 was " to combine strength with beauty, steadiness 

 with high mettle. His idea of perfect shape was 

 short backs, open bosoms, straight legs and compact 

 feet. His idea of perfection in hounds in chase con- 

 sisted of their being true guides in hard running, 

 and close and patient hunters on a cold scent com- 

 bined with stoutness ; overrunning the scent and 

 babbling were considered the greatest faults." 



In those days hounds were cast seldom in com- 

 parison with the practice of our own time, for the 

 sufficient reason that they seldom required it. This 

 was in some measure owing to the superior scent- 

 holding properties of the land before scientific farming, 

 heavy drainage, and artificial manuring came into 

 vogue. Even in a tillage country hounds had a 

 better chance, for they did not plough into the fences 

 then, but left a good broad headland, which was 

 almost invariably travelled by the fox. But the fine 

 noses of the hounds themselves and steady line- 

 hunting qualities helped fully as much as the state 

 of the land to do away with the necessity for much 

 casting during a day's sport, and this steady, relent- 

 less pursuit was doubtless the reason that they were 

 able to cover great distances in a time that even in 

 these flying days cause astonishment. But it is true 

 that they were in the habit of hunting stouter foxes 

 then, and therefore these long runs came more fre- 

 quently. Possibly, with a burning scent, we have 

 hounds nowadays that could run away from a pack 

 of Bluecaps, Wantons, or Merkins ; but, unless the 

 hound-trial and stop-watch is to be called into play 



Hounds, Gentlemen, Please. 23 



