FRANCE 119 



of hunting with the finest packs in the north of France, and of watching the work of 

 a number of packs of English hounds and crosses, I was allowed to judge of the 

 qualities of the different breeds, and I did not hesitate to accord the palm to the 

 French. ^ Droit dans la voief was the motto of my kennels, and I devoted myself 

 patiently to the development of the race known as \'irelade. Judicious couplings, 

 aided by a careful education, have produced the dogs that to-day fill my kennels. 

 The union of the races of Gascony and Saintonge has strengthened the blood of 

 both, and strength and robustness have combined with elegance and lightness. It 

 pleases me to recognise that I should have had the greatest difficulty in arriving at 

 my object if I had not found in James Baratte, who has kept the stud-book, a 

 most intelligent huntsman, devoted, indeed passionately attached, to the chase and 

 to French hounds." 



Thus wrote the Baron Carayon La Tour seven-and-thirty years ago, 

 and I have been lucky in getting this extract from his nephew, the 

 present master, who carries on with perseverance his uncle's work. 

 I am also able to present readers of Sport in Europe with the portrait 

 of one of the most noted hounds of the breed, " Mirliflore," a life-sized 

 picture of which hangs in the dining-hall of the Chateau de Virelade. 



I have thought it not only interesting, but even useful, to make 

 this splendid breed of hounds better known to hunting men in Europe, 

 for the wonderful quality of its scent, its deep voice that makes it 

 easy to follow from afar in the thickest forest, and its courage in 

 attacking animals like the wolf, should make it as much sought 

 after for those kinds of hunting in which fineness of scent is in- 

 dispensable to success, as well as for those in which power, courage, 

 and agility are the most necessary qualities. And the breed was 

 appreciated, moreover, at its true value by an English writer, who 

 published a long and enthusiastic account of it in connection with 

 the Paris Dog Show of 1863 in the Fie/d of May i6th, 1863. 



As I have said, then, there are numerous packs in P>ance, but 



