216 THE COMPLETE FOXHUNTER 



of from fifty to a hundred years ago. This is a matter 

 on which it is almost impossible to form a really 

 definite opinion, because we can only judge the capa- 

 bilities of the hound of a former generation by what 

 has been handed down to us in writing. And most 

 of the reliable literature of foxhunting goes to suggest 

 firstly that hounds were a little slower — say in the days 

 of Nimrod and Surtees — than they are now. No doubt 

 there was more variation between one pack and another 

 as regards speed, but that (if it occurred) was due to 

 the fact that certain kennels took the greatest pains 

 over the breeding of their hounds from a very early 

 date, while with many of the country packs the niceties 

 of hound-breeding are only of comparatively recent 

 date. But the veterans of the present hunting world — 

 or at all events some of them — are of opinion that nose 

 has deteriorated since they began to hunt, and that in 

 consequence the sharp burst is in these days so much 

 more common than the long hunting run. Some of the 

 critics even go so far as to suggest that the clean 

 necks and the disappearance of throatiness have 

 impaired scenting powers, and they are of opinion 

 that bloodhounds, and even the old blue mottle, 

 and in fact any hounds of the ''Southern" type, had 

 much more "throat" than the modern foxhounds are 

 possessed of, and better scenting powers. 



We have said that it is impossible to form an opinion 

 on the subject which is absolutely definite, but never- 

 theless it may be pointed out that there is plenty of 

 evidence in favour of the modern hound being as well 

 off for nose as his ancestor. In the first place it is quite 

 certain — admitting of no contradiction — that whereas 

 the foxhound has improved the fox has deteriorated, 

 and there are far more miserable, half-scentless animals 



