THE HEYTHROP 127 



the Warwickshire, Mr. Drake's, the Old Berkshire, and 

 the Vale of White Horse Hunts. It may well be 

 designated a nice compact country, and I feel con- 

 vinced there is no other of the same limits that can vie 

 with it in the number of foxes which it contains, and 

 the sport afforded on an average of years. It is to the 

 consideration and persevering attention of landlords, 

 tenants, and the occupiers of their own estates, in the 

 strict preservation of foxes, that such an abundance of 

 them is maintained. 



The Heythrop pack was at first composed of twenty- 

 three couples of hounds from the Duke of Beaufort's 

 kennels, ten couples of draft hounds from Lord 

 Radnor's, a like number to enter from Mr. Drake, nine 

 couples and a half of draft hounds from the Warwick- 

 shire, one couple of draft and one couple and a half 

 of unentered hounds from the Honourable H. Moreton, 

 and one couple from the Duke of Rutland. The custom 

 of walking puppies being new to the country, the 

 opportunities of breeding for the first few years were 

 very limited, when they had recourse principally to Mr. 

 Drake for reinforcements; but as the popularity of the 

 new establishment increased, that difficulty was over- 

 come, and they are enabled most years to put forward 

 a sufficient number of young hounds of their own 

 breeding to recruit their ranks, resorting of course to 

 other kennels when required for fresh blood, generally 

 selecting those of the Earls Yarborough and Fitz- 

 hardinge, the late Mr. Drake, and the Warwickshire. 

 They are a wirj'^, active style of hound, and proverbially 

 stout, with very great speed, admirably adapted to the 

 country in which thej?^ hunt, some of which is not very 

 favourable to scent. Principally descended from the 

 old Badminton sort, they possess the good qualities 

 inherited by that blood, although in point of substance 

 they may be lighter and their symmetry' somewhat 

 changed. Every breeder of hounds has his peculiar 

 fancies, and endeavours to obtain a particular style 

 suitable, as he considers, to the nature of the country 



