124 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



able for being free witli their tongues. Packs of fox- 

 hounds vary very much in this respect, some possessing 

 deep sonorous notes, but claiming, as we think, a 

 cross with harrier blood at some remote period ; 

 others are squeakers only, so light of tongue that 

 there is no music in their cry. This cannot be 

 called a fault, since they do speak as loudly as they 

 can to a scent. In bygone times the music of the 

 pack claimed more attention than it does in these 

 fast days. Old Gervase Markham gives us some 

 curious information on this point, thus : " If you 

 would have your kennell for sweetnesse of cry, then 

 you must compound it of some large dogges that 

 have deepe solemne mouthes, and are swift in 

 spending, which must, as it were, beere the base in 

 consort, then a double number of roaring and loud- 

 ringing mouthes, which must beere the counter- 

 tenor, then some hollow plaine sweete mouthes, 

 which must beere the meane or middle parte ; and 

 so with these three parts of musicke, you shall 

 make your cry perfect ; and herein you shall observe 

 that these hounds thus mixt do run just and even 

 together, and not hang off loose one from another, 

 which is the vilest sight that may be ; and you 

 shall understand that this composition is but to bee 

 made of the largest and swiftest deep-mouthed dog, 

 the slowest middle-sized dog, and the shorter-legd 

 slender dog. Amongst these you cast in a couple 

 or two of small-singing beagles, which as small 

 trebles may warble amongst them ; the cry will be 

 a great deal the more sweeter." " If you would 

 have your kennell for loudness of mouthe, you shall 



