THE VALUE OF FOXHOUNDS 229 



couples went for 194 gs., the top price being 30 gs. 

 for four couples. Then a few days previously Messrs. 

 Tattersall had sold Mr. Radclyffe's dogs and bitches at 

 Dorchester in five lots of four couples each, together 

 with three couples of unentered hounds, purchasers 

 being few and far between. Mr. Lywood paid 94 gs. 

 for four couples, Mr. Hall of the Heythrop 80 gs. for 

 another lot, and the three others were bought in at 

 80 gs., 77 gs., and 70 gs., but the puppies found no 

 bidder. On the 31st of May the North Staffordshire 

 were brought to the hammer at Trentham, owing to 

 the death of Mr. William Davenport, when thirty-six 

 couples of entered and eight couples of unentered 

 hounds realised 821 gs., Colonel Duller being the 

 largest purchaser for the York and Ainsty. 



On April 13, 1870, an historic sale took place, when 

 Lord Poltimore disposed of the establishment which he 

 had started in 1858 with drafts drawn from the Vale of 

 White Horse, Craven, and Vine, the remainder of the 

 packs being taken by Mr. Luxton, of Brushford, who, 

 however, very shortly afterwards sent on his portion 

 to Lord Poltimore, so that the Portsmouth and Polti- 

 more kennels had a common origin. Both packs were 

 of first-rate excellence, and yet within twelve years they 

 had assumed characteristics essentially distinct. The 

 principal strains of blood in the first instance came 

 from the Duke of Rutland, Lord Yarborough, Lord 

 Fitzwilliam, Lord Portsmouth, Mr. Assheton Smith, 

 Mr. Foljambe, Mr. Meynell Ingram, the Craven, and 

 the Vine ; but the great success of the kennel was 

 through the Belvoir Comus, who came in an unentered 

 draft from the Duke's establishment to Eggesford. 

 In 1859 Lord Poltimore had purchased eighteen couples 

 of the Atherstone bitches from Mr. Selby Lowndes for 



