A Blood-hound Pack. 415 



I could get them as level and to run as well together as fox-hounds. The puppies are very 

 difficult to rear." 



In reference to these blood-hounds, Captain Roden said, in a letter to The Field: — 

 "The hounds now in the possession of Lord Wolverton were bred by me — at least, 

 eight couple were. I saw them last summer at his place. I obtained the breed from 

 the late Mr. Jennings, in Yorkshire, and Mr. Conan, of Bladun Burn, near Newcastle. I 

 then began my pack by keeping them as low as I could, but not less than twenty-six 

 inches. Their weight at two years old should be about seventy to eighty pounds. They 

 do not come to maturity until three years. They are very delicate until they are eight or 

 ten months old, and require unskimmed milk and lots of room ; in fact, should be at large 

 for hours in the day without a man, for this reason— they have great intelligence, and are 

 not mere machines, like fox-hounds ; they soon learn by themselves what to avoid, and will 

 act accordingly. I always hunted mine with a 'drag,' a small piece of 7-aiv meat, the fresher 

 the better, about one pound weight. A man took it on foot, and I gave from two hours' 

 to four hours' start if for horsemen, two hours if for mere exercise, of which they require a 

 great deal — four hours, sometimes six hours. The man should go about five miles, and put 

 the drag in a tree. Nothing is to be put in the meat on any account. They will not be 

 driven or stand cracking a whip — get sulky or cross — they must be let alone, and the slower 

 they go the more beautiful the hunting. In breeding I found that the narrower the head, 

 a high point in show-dogs, the worse hind-quarters — no second thighs, and consequently 

 they were unable to last for quick work. That and flat feet are the drawbacks. The sooner 

 they are let hunt the better ; at three months old I used to begin. They never seem to care 

 so much for any scent as what they were first entered at. They require a large kennel, as 

 when they fight there is much harm done, and they do not cool down for some time. One 

 which had been petted by Lady W. was put back into the kennels, when the others killed 

 him at once ; but they are in general quiet. I don't think they are to be always left to 

 servants ; they can pick up bad habits like other animals, but to a master they are delightful 

 — so affectionate and obedient. They must have a gallop of some kind thrice a week, or 

 they get pufify, for you must not let them get low or shorten their food. They should be 

 above themselves or they get tired ; plenty of flesh, often given, raw, and large lumps at a 

 time. The chewing promotes digestion. In work they do not cast like other hounds — each 

 hound goes alone — and never watch for another dog ; in fact, they never take their noses off 

 the ground, and only one deer was killed by them in Dorsetshire. Even when in the same 

 field they never get a view ; so all deer have been saved without difficulty. A pack of ten 

 couple is as many as should go out, as they all give lots of music. Fifteen couple should be 

 kept, so many accidents occur. They eat more than other hounds, and won't stand short 

 commons and have it made up with whip cord." 



The great point in favour of carted stag-hunting with busy, hard-riding men is, that the 

 fox chooses his time of breaking and his point across country ; while the carted deer is led 

 out at an appointed hour, with a fine open country before him that he must cross if he runs 

 straight. 



IRISH STAG-HOUNDS. 



Ireland has one very celebrated pack of stag-hounds, the " Ward." They hunt close to 

 Dublin, in one of the best countries in the world. Of these Whyte Melville sings — 



