LETTER XXIX. 317 



all the rage in the present day, and thistle-whippers, as 

 they are facetiously called, scarcely dare show their names 

 in print. There are some few, however, who have still 

 the hardihood to parade their little dogs before the public 

 in the columns of BelVs Life, and at the head of the list 

 stands the worthy master of the B.V.H., who, taking 

 him all in all, may be considered as the Meynell of his 

 day in the harrier line. Mr. Yeatman certainly stands 

 confessed as the leading and most brilliant star in his 

 profession, and by all accounts, his pack must be quite 

 perfection. They are, I am told, all thorough bred fox- 

 hounds, standing from 20 to 21 inches in height, with 

 good legs and feet ; and, if we are to judge by the runs 

 we sometimes see recorded in BelVs Life, they are as 

 clever in their performances as they are in their appear- 

 ance. . I still must think, however, that thorough-bred 

 foxhounds are more than a match for the timid hare ; and 

 I should prefer the cross I have named above, not because 

 they have better noses, but because they have less speed 

 and are less flighty. 



Foxhounds always require to be kept above their 

 work ; but that is not the case with harriers — the more 

 work they have the better they will be. If fed on good 

 old oatmeal, and well treated, they will hunt three days 

 a week. There is seldom a complaint in any country of 

 having too many foxes ; they are easily dispersed ; but 

 too many hares are almost fatal to sport with harriers. 

 They will not disperse and shift their quarters like foxes ; 

 and you will be running and changing all day long, until 

 the hounds are disgusted. I have seen greyhounds so 

 over-coursed and bewildered with many hares that they 

 came to a stand, and would not attempt to race after 



