MR. PINCHES 179 



from the curious description given of them in the cata- 

 logues, wherein the runs in which they had dis- 

 tinguished themselves were faithfully portrayed. 



The late Mr. Pinches of Ticklerton at one time like- 

 wise hunted a portion of the country now claimed by 

 the Wheatland Hunt ; and that was another pack 

 which rejoiced in ancient tactics. It was called the 

 United Pack, but whether that was intended jocosely 

 I will not presume to state. The Independent Pack 

 would have been a more appropriate term ; for they 

 were all over the country, each hound appearing to be 

 devoting his attention to his own specific object. This 

 their worthy master considered a great perfection, 

 arguing that if they were kept together, fifteen couples 

 would be of no more use in the field than four or five ; 

 but by spreading extensively each hound had an oppor- 

 tunity of distinguishing himself by rendering assistance 

 either in finding a fox or recovering a scent. Houndsi 

 which other masters would have drafted for being rank 

 skirters Mr. Pinches considered invaluable. The first 

 time I ever saw them was at Willey Park, and they had 

 commenced drawing the covert when I arrived. I 

 soon found the master, who hunted them himself. At 

 his horse's heels was a powerful, good-looking hound, 

 but awfully disfigured by having one ear cropped close 

 to his head, and his stern docked to within three inches 

 of the stump. On my expressing astonishment, and 

 inquiring from Mr. Pinches why the poor animal had 

 been so mutilated, he replied, " That is the best hound 

 in England ; he was given to me by Mr. Jones of 

 Maesmawr; he was docked and had his ear cut off that 

 he might not be stolen." " An effectual remedy," I 

 observed, "and, doubtless, an original idea; but how 

 is it," I enquired, " that he is not with the other hounds 

 in covert, trying to find his fox?" "Oh," said his 

 master, "I always keep him with me, so that if I have 

 a chance of seeing a fox break covert, I can lay him on 

 in view ; he would not leave my horse's heels even if the 

 other hounds were running hard, until I told him ; he 



