270 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



freely used Belvoir sires. A look over the old books 

 goes to show in what a great proportion of instances 

 the introduction of a cross of Belvoir blood has 

 produced puppies of the size and quality required. 

 Twenty years ago one noticed the same effect 

 produced by crossing the sires of the late Lord 

 Portsmouth's breeding. 



As with all hounds, big bone, true shaped joints, 

 and good feet are indispensable, the latter being from 

 the nature of the ground more essential than with 

 other packs. The stony tracts on Croydon and 

 Dunkery and the constant clambering about on the 

 rocks in the streams and the sea shore making havoc 

 with their toes. 



The work is very severe on hounds, and although 

 the huntsmen of old exaggerated the ill-effects of 

 cold water in the winter, it cannot be denied that 

 a certain number of hounds do get laid up with 

 kidney trouble and various forms of rheumatism. 



Sidney Tucker, the present huntsman, is an 

 extremely clever kennel man, and by unremitting 

 attention, especially to prevent hounds lying on the 

 flags in the sun, no easy matter when the pack is 

 hunting four days a week in hot weather, has made 

 kennel lameness almost unknown. 



Hounds do not, as a rule, stand many seasons' 

 work with the Devon and Somerset ; they have 

 many perils to encounter, not the, least of which is 

 being trodden on or kicked by the horses of the 

 field. This is occasionally almost unavoidable, for 



