A Day With the Belvoir Foxhounds 143 



breeding with the genial huntsman and obtain his advice on 

 subjects of general interest. 



In spite of the great rivalry that has always existed in 

 England m hound breeding, it has ever been the sportsman- 

 like practice of the Dukes of Rutland to permit all other INIas- 

 ters of hounds to obtain the blood. In so doing, the Belvoir has 

 refrained from entering in competition at Peterboro', where 

 as a rule Belvoir blood from other kennels has carried off the 

 prizes. Few people outside of huntsmen and IMasters appre- 

 ciate what it means to breed a perfect foxhound. The require- 

 ments are so high and so numerous that an attempt to com- 

 bine them in a single animal is a task so great as to make the 

 breeding of all other domestic animals mere cliild's play in 

 comparison. In "Cross Country with Horse and Hound," 

 the writer said in substance: "The English foxhound as he 

 stands to-daj', is the highest example of the art and science of 

 breeding for improvement of any domestic animal — the horse 

 not excepted." Tliis is indeed a sweeping statement, and is 

 doubtless looked upon by some as extravagant. JNIost pure 

 bred domestic animals are bred with the idea of perfecting 

 them in one particular, — the horse either for speed or draught, 

 the cow for milk or beef, the sheep for wool or mutton. So 

 difficult is it to obtain in these animals perfection in more than 

 one quality, that breeders have, as a rule, given it up as unsatis- 

 factory, and confine their energies to the development of a 

 single characteristic, besides colour marldngs, etc. that distin- 

 guish the particular breed. 



The English foxhound, as he is bred to-day in England, 

 must possess in addition to colour and markings that distinguish 

 the family, more high class qualifications than any other domes- 

 tic animal. His origin was a cross between the bloodhound and 

 the greyhound; one of his parents hunted by sight only, the 

 other by nose ; one ran mute, the other gave tongue — the very 

 swiftest and the very slowest. To harmonise these conflict- 



