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him that small ones were generally the stoutest, 

 soundest, and in every respect the most executive." 

 As Mr. Meynell hunted the Quorn country for close 

 on fifty years, he had ample time to arrive at this 

 conclusion. In those days the country was not as 

 enclosed as it is now, and a big hound would have 

 a better chance, so that there is every reason why 

 we should be content with medium-sized hounds at 

 present. Again quoting " Cecil," "It is now very 

 generally acknowledged that hounds of a medium 

 stature are to be preferred to over-sized ones, most 

 especially in a hilly and woo.dland country." Further 

 on he alludes to the same subject and says : 

 " Medium-sized hounds, provided they possess mus- 

 cular powers with good legs and feet, possess so very 

 many advantages over their gigantic brethren that it 

 is difficult to imagine what can induce any man of 

 practical experience and observation to patronise 

 them." "Cecil" was continually visiting different 

 packs and had exceptional opportunities of forming a 

 just opinion. He is one of the very few writers oJ 

 the past to whom we can refer to for information 

 about hounds, the majority confining their remarks 

 to the exploits of riders. 



We may take it that Brocklesby Bally wood, sire 

 of the well-known Belvoir hound of that name, was 

 of the smaU and active sort, at least judging from 

 Will Goqdalls' description. He says: "This is a 

 most beautiful little short-legged dog, exceedingly 

 light of bone, but with beautiful legs and feet." 



A writer of later date, Mr. Clapham, says: " As. 

 tc size, a hound of twenty-three inches or under is in 

 nine cases out of ten a, much better performer than 

 one of twenty-four or five inches." He again refers 



