THE AMERICAN FOXHOUND 23 



THE BYRON STRAIN. 

 Dr. A. C. Heffenger in the "American Field," July 1, '93. 



Only a few years ago the Byron was the most famous strain in 

 America; but two or three years since the breeding pack was 

 sold out, scattered far and near, and the strain is doomed to 

 rapid extinction. Before their name becomes but a memory I 

 would like to tell your hunting readers what I know and have 

 read of them. 



It seems that about fifty-five years ago some gentlemen of 

 Petersburg, Pa., organized a hunting club and imported some 

 fine English foxhounds. They inter-bred a couple of these 

 hounds, and among the issue was an exceptionally fine young 

 bitch, named Clio. She was taken by a member of the hunt, 

 Mr. John Dugger, from Petersburg to Lawrenceville , Va., for 

 the purpose of breeding her to a famous foxliound (Rattler) 

 owned by Mr. H. L. Percivall, whose hounds were noted for 

 their choice breeding. Forester, the sire of Rattler, was raised 

 and run by Mr. Thomas Spencer, of Greenville County, Va. 

 Rattler's dam was either an imported red and white speckled 

 bitch, or a well bred blue speckled bitch; the imported bitch 

 was presented by Capt. Manlove to Capt. Dann, of Lawrence- 

 ville, Va. It was about 1830 that Mr. Percivall had a pack, 

 with Rattler at the head. In a series of competitive chases Mr. 

 Percivall' s pack vanquished the Tucker pack, and consequently 

 tlie stud services of Rattler were soon in great demand ; and so 

 Clio was taken to the Percivall kennels to be bred to him: 



From this mating resulted four puppies — Byron, Rattler II, 

 Music and Dido. These puppies were placed in the pack of Mr. 

 George Dugger, who ran them one season, when a removal to 

 Alabama caused him to turn them over to Col. P. B. Starke, 

 with the understanding that Byron should go to Col. E. P. 

 Tucker, as promised. Col. Starke kept Rattler II, and pro- 

 nounced him one of tlie finest hounds he ever saw. Eventually 

 Mr. Dugger took Dido west, and her blood is mingled with that 

 of the best strains west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Music was 

 given to Col. Hampton of South Carolina, father of the present 

 Wade Hampton. After her arrival she was turned loose; she 

 started back to Virginia, where she turned up in due season at 

 her old home, after passing through three states — probably the 

 greatest piece of homing on record on the part of a hound. 



