86 NIMROD S HUNTING TOUR 



no one who knows anything of hunting wih dispute the fact, that 

 the difference of speed, and even of goodness, between one pack of 

 hounds and another, is hght in the scale when opposed to the more 

 weighty difference of a good scenting country and a bad one. 



With respect to their not running up to their dying fox, I cannot 

 say I witnessed a greater degree of sinking than I have seen in all 

 other hounds, when draggled through a country in such w^eather as 

 we have lately had, for several hours after their game, without a 

 scent to enable them to get up to it. We all know that to kill a 

 good fox, hounds must chase as well as hunt ; but without scent 

 there can be no chase. 



In my experience with hounds, I have heard a greater difference 

 of opinion on feeding than any other point. Some say hounds 

 should be above their work ; others feed them to be under their 

 work : but I should imagine the happy medium consists in their 

 being up to their work, and no more. When I saw Mr. Ward's 

 hounds at the end of last hunting season, I certainly thought them 

 higher than they should be at that time of the year, but this is not 

 the case now. On the morning we met at Penwood, I thought I 

 never saw so fine a pack of hounds by a covert's side in my life, or, 

 with one or two exceptions, more fit to go over a strong country, 

 and if the scent had been a little better, I think most of the field 

 would have been quite satisfied with the pace. Their hunting 

 their fox, with the head they carried, over such great variety of 

 country on this day, was the admiration of every one who saw 

 them. 



With respect to feeding, it must not be forgotten that Mr. Ward's 

 are very square-built hounds, with more than ordinary muscle in 

 their backs and bodies, which makes them appear fed higher than 

 they really are. 



I have been generally accustomed to full-sized fox-hounds, and 

 therefore see nothing very extraordinary in the height of Mr. Ward's 

 hounds. As far as my eye could direct me, it does not exceed 

 twenty-three for dog, and twenty-one for bitch-hounds ; and, taking 

 the kennel throughout, they are very even in size. Draft Solyman 

 (bred by Mr. Smith out of a bitch of Mr. Ward's), Slyboots, Mimic, 

 and one or two other dog-hounds, and Cherry, Plaything, Bantling, 



