250 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



Both his kennels are in the centre of his Hunts, and therefore they 

 have not long distances to covert. 



Lord Darlington's hounds are divided into two packs— one called 

 the young, and the other the old pack, although of course there are 

 some old hounds in the former. His Lordship is fond of large 

 hounds, and he has succeeded in breeding them quite to the top of 

 the standard — bigger, indeed, on his own admission, than his 

 country requires.* Their speed, however, with a scent is quite 

 proportionate to their size, and when brought to hunting, fastidious 

 must be the man who finds fault with them. On this point, then, 

 I think I have said enough ; but I am happy to be able to state the 

 candid admission of their noble huntsman, that, to those very eminent 

 breeders of foxhounds. Sir Eichard Puleston and Mr. Ward, is he 

 deeply indebted for that — essential to blood — steadiness on the line 

 for which the Eaby pack are at present conspicuous. 



Pictures cannot be drawn without shades ; and truth and im- 

 partiality require me to say, that I was given to understand steadi- 

 ness on the line was not at one time the characteristic of the Eaby 

 pack. Their speed was undisputed ; but a little more stoop and a 

 little more patience under difficulties were w^anting. That they are at 

 this time the speediest hounds in England, it may be hard to deter- 

 mine ; but I have heard Sir Bellingham Graham say they are the 

 speediest he ever saio; and during the many times I hunted with 

 them, I witnessed some as fine hunting as hounds can possibly shew. 



Having spoken of the high standard of the Eaby pack, I must be 

 allowed to state that their size is as little detrimental to their 

 symmetry as can possibly be expected, and they bear evident marks 

 of being bred by a judicious hand. Large animals are never so 

 perfect of their kind as smaller ones, which mainly accounts for 

 the advantage bitches have in this respect over dog hounds ; and 

 in horses, where is the pony put into very high condition that we 

 should not call handsome ? and how scarce is this quality in a horse 

 seventeen hands high ! The Eaby pack are not parted for the sex, 

 and the kennel contains between seventy and eighty couples of 

 working hounds. 



* In conntries so close as Yorkshire, hounds must occasionally meuse, when 

 smaller hounds have the advantage. 



