ITALY 



233 



THE MARQUIS L. DI ROCCAGIOVINE 

 (Master of the Roman Foxhounds) 



IV.— HUNTING 



Towards the end of last century, when Italy was less under culti- 

 vation, and the nobles resided more at their castles, hunting with 

 hounds was in common vogue all over the peninsula ; but the sport 

 was completely dropped in the beginning- of this century, and the 

 breed of dogs employed for the purpose has now died out. In 1840 

 Lord Chesterfield was the first to bring out to Rome a pack of 

 Engrlish foxhounds, and he then started fox-hunting in the Roman 

 Campagna. From that time to this, with a few brief intervals, 

 this sport has flourished in the vicinity of Rome. The soft climate, 



