THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



from the very best blood. I conclude this part of my subject, 

 then, by assuring you that, if you attempt to form a pack of 

 foxhounds yourself, you must not, clever fellow as you are, 

 expect perfection under ten years, and that makes a hole even in 

 a young man's life. I can only say it cost me that time to form 

 what I considered a steady and stout pack. Some sorts prove 

 vicious, however highly bred ; some unsound, some delicate ; 

 and, forasmuch as it requires three years to find out the results 

 of any cross, how favourable soever may be the expectation 

 from it, the breeder of hounds is too often, if not working in 

 the dark, involved in uncertainties and perplexities to no small 

 amount. As is the case with breeding horses, faults of gene- 

 rations back on one side or the other, will appear ; and with 

 hounds, even should the cross suit the first time, there is 

 perplexity again ; the produce must be three j^ears old before 

 their real goodness can be verified ; and their sire must be at 

 least five or six, as no man would breed from a hound much 

 under three years' standing in his work. Should the cross 

 nick, however, spare no pains to continue it, if circumstances 

 will enable you to do so — that is to say, if the dog and the 

 bitch are within 500 miles of each other. 



' Now the chief questions for your consideration are — what 

 constitutes a good, and what a faulty hound in his work, and, 

 afterwards, his shape and make. The properties of a good 

 hound are soon told. He does his best to find a fox ; throws 

 his tongue when he is sure he has found him, and not before ; 

 gets away quickly with the scent so long as it is forward ; 

 stops and turns quicJdy when it is not forward ; drives it to the 

 end without dwelling on it, or tiring; is true to the line without 

 beino- too eager to get to the head and guide the scent; sticks 

 to his fox when he is sinking in a cover, let the cover be ever 

 so stronc, which proves his perseverance and stoutness ; quite 

 steady from riot in the field ; not jealous in his work ; good- 

 tempered in the kennel, of a vigorous constitution, and sound 

 from head to foot. 



' A friend of mine, speaking of the merits of hounds, has 

 this curious though not unreasonable notion — " It may appear 

 paradoxical," he says, " but it is nevertheless true, that the 

 (query, one) proof of a hound's goodness is, that he is never 

 remarkable during a run ; and there are many good sportsmen 

 who would prefer a hound of this nature to one which is 



372 



