FRANCE 121 



voice, the latter so useful when hounds have to be followed in thick 

 forests. 



For hunting- the hare, there are several packs of a small French 

 breed known as the briquet, or of basset hounds, a breed successfully 

 cultivated for some years past in England. And, lastly, we have 

 very fine breeds of griffons, which are certainly the original stock 

 of the English otter-hound. A single pack of the latter has been 

 introduced from England by M. de Tinguy, who hunts with them 

 very successfully in Poitou, in the west of France. 



It is, then, apparent that PVance has remained the classic home 

 of venery, and that the original French races of hounds have re- 

 mained very carefully bred alongside of those crossed with the 

 foxhound. I have thought it right to give precedence to the 

 Virelade kennels, and I am sure that any sportsman asking leave 

 of M. de Carayon La Tour to go over it, or even to take part in 

 one of their interestino- runs, will be made welcome. M. le Baron 

 de Carayon La Tour, ex-major in a cavalry regiment, is the perfect 

 type of the French gentleman. Of exquisite politeness, of a loyalty 

 that wins for him the sympathy of all, and of a wit that is wholly 

 French, I know none of his acquaintance who are not also his friends. 

 He lives in the splendid Chateau de Grenade, adjoining his other 

 property, Virelade, in the canton of Castres, Gironde. I am indebted 

 to him for a portrait of himself in hunting costume. His motto is 

 " Droit dans la voiei" 



I think it has been right to give hunting the first place in an 

 account of sport in France, for it was always held in great esteem 

 by our kings, and is essentially a national sport. Unfortunately, 



