220 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



remark made by him when looking over the hounds 

 of the hate Mr. Villebois, who then hunted the 

 H.H. country with a pack the very reverse to his 

 own, pecuharly suited to their country as to height, 

 cleanness of limb, and hunting qualifications — in 

 short, we do not remember any hounds of that 

 day so well calculated to hunt a rough country. 

 The two masters were canvassing the merits of an 

 individual in the lady pack, remaikable for great 

 beauty and symmetry, when Mr. Ward said, " Yes, 

 she is surpassingly handsome ; but eighteen stone " 

 (meaning himself) " could not see which way that 

 hound went.'' It would have been no easy matter, 

 however, even supposing Mr. Ward had the dis- 

 position to breed hounds of a smaller sort, since it 

 has been invariably found that like begets like, 

 and he could not have reduced his standard without 

 great trouble for many years. Although so large, 

 they still would hunt, and did hunt, as low a scent 

 as beagles ; and we believe for a period of eighteen 

 years they fought on this uncongenial soil, killing 

 on an average their forty brace of foxes annually 

 — no very easy conquest with an abundance of 

 game and heavy woodlands. 



The most attractive features of that country 

 were, however, the jovial-looking faces at the place 

 of meeting, which were wont to assemble again in 

 the evening at the festive board, the Craven at 

 that time having obtained the character of being 

 the best six o'clock country in England. Adjoin- 

 ing this, on the eastern side, lay that part of 

 Berkshire then occupied by Sir John Cope, of 



