138 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1886 



Denmark, was the cup puppy of his j'ear, is a good-looking hound with plenty of 

 bone and nice legs and feet, but he is not so blood-like as Denmark. He is a son 

 of the above-named Dorimont ; and there is another young sire much thought of 

 by Leedhara, namely, Chanticleer, the winner of the cup in his year, and got by 

 General out of Charity, by tlie Grove, Reginald. 



The Meynell bitch pack has a look of work and smartness about it, and the 

 ladies give evidence of having done some racing this season. Some of them are 

 as neat as one can wish to find. Mindful I thougiit the handsomest old bitch of 

 all, and she is by Marmaduke, the sire of Merryman, and, like her relative, she 

 has been such a good one. Languish and Lavish are two charming third season 

 bitches, by Landlord, the stallion hound I like ; and Bonny Lass, by the Oakley 

 Stormer, is a grand bitch, built much after Mr. Arkwright's order ; whilst Artful , 

 a red-pied bitch, and Syren, a second season hunter, are as neat as their descent 

 from the ducal kennel should make them. Of course, a good many of the matrons 

 were away on family duties, but the bitch pack, as I saw it, looks more sorty than 

 the dogs, and it doubtless comprises plenty of the right material to keep up the 

 gi-eat prestige of the Meynell. Charles Leedham says he feels sure the two packs 

 were never more killing and smarter than they are now, and as for steadiness, it 

 has been their characteristic since the days when the great Mr. Hugo Meynell 

 prided himself on the discipline of his hounds. 



The season of 1886-1887 began well with a very 

 useful day for cub-hunting, which occurred on September 

 16th, when they found in the Greaves, ran the full length 

 of the Forest Banks, then across Bagot's Park through 

 Lord's Coppice, away and out round Abbots Bromley, 

 back again to Lord's Coppice, whence they went away 

 again, and lost between there and Abbots Bromley. 



There was hunting every day in the week, four days 

 with the Meynell and two days with the Master's private 

 pack, and sport was of a high order. It is impossible to 

 mention all the good runs, but sometimes little incidents 

 are equally interesting. There are still a good many of 

 us who will remember how hounds slipped every one, one 

 day in November, from the Bath Covert at Hoar Cross, 

 and how Mr. Fort was the only man with them up to 

 Bagot's Woods. Only a few days afterwards, in the 

 Eadburne country, Mr. E. FitzHerbert * and Mr. Porteous 

 had it all to themselves for a bit. 



From December 14th there was frost and snow for the 

 best part of six weeks, and no one, who experienced it, is 



* Mr. E., Mr. Richard, or Mr. " Dick " FitzHerbert always signify the present 

 Sir Richard. 



