SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 323 



Isles, two varieties of the vulpine genus^ called the 

 greyhound and bulldog. The first a large long 

 animal, with light-coloured fur; the other possess- 

 ing a wider head, and a much darker skin. These 

 two original breeds have been nearly stamped out 

 (except in certain wild mountainous districts), and a 

 bad cross stamped in, by the importation of French 

 foxes — a little red species, worth little save for their 

 skins; and even in some parts of Wales, from 

 which 3^ears ago we obtained some veritable grey- 

 hound foxes, there is nothing of the kind to be 

 found. 



These little red ^^ varmints ^' have no chance with 

 a pack of thoroughbred foxhounds when they can 

 be prevailed upon to run straight, which is rarely 

 the case. They cannot if they would, and would 

 not if they could — it is not in their nature; but 

 they often beat hounds by short running dodges. 

 N'importe whether foxes be good or bad. The 

 practice of trying to race them to death as soon as 

 they are on foot is radically bad — destruction to 

 sport and ruinous to hounds ; and the men who 

 advocate this rash system are either totally ignorant 

 of '' The Science of Foxhunting,^^ or wholly indiffe- 

 rent to it. There is a restless impatience in pseudo- 

 foxhunters of these latter days which thwarts the 

 very object they have in view. 



Beckford's observation is correct enough to a 

 certain point — " Hounds which will not bear lifting 

 are not worth keeping ; " but it is equally certain 

 that hounds which are continually lifted are worth 

 nothing at all. On a good scenting day they may 



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