96 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



serve them, being the only desideratum to 

 render it first-rate among the * provincials.' 

 The interests of pheasants appear to be 

 paramount, and the preservation of foxes 

 a secondary consideration; so that Mr. 

 Velveteen is rather too much in evidence, 

 and the following lines unfortunately have 

 sometimes proved too true. 



" His oath that in one covert 

 He a brace of foxes saw, 

 Is the never failing prelude 

 That betokens a blank draw." 



The hounds are a very useful wear and tear 

 sort, lighter in bone and less even in height 

 than some packs, but for all that an im- 

 proving lot. 



A wonderful hound is ' Andover ' entering 

 on his ninth season, as fresh as ever on his legs, 

 and not even a toe down. Another curiosity 

 is ' Birthday' . She began her career with the 

 York and Ainsty. One day the horse ridden 

 by a member of the Bedale Hunt, while 

 hunting with the York and Ainsty, lashed 

 out and smashed her leg into splinters. 

 Convinced that the bitch would be of no 

 further use. Colonel Fairfax (the Master of 

 the York and Ainsty) sent word to Mr. 

 Booth, that as one of his ' field ' had maimed 

 a hound he had better send for it. Mr. 

 Booth, nothing loth, promptly did so ; and 

 'Birthday' was removed to the Bedale 

 Kennels, where the splintered limb was so 

 skilfully set up by Thatcher (Mr. Booth's 

 huntsman), that she became as sound as a 



