lo Modern Dogs. 



kept at Simonsbath, Somersetshire, which hunted 

 the red deer on the moor by the Bade, just as it is 

 hunted to-day. But it is not my province here to 

 enter into the ancient history of each variety of 

 dog, and, so far as the staghound is concerned, 

 I must be contented with thus briefly drawing 

 attention to his ancient Hneage. 



Although some hundred years or so ago there was 

 every appearance of a speedy decline of stag- 

 hunting, owing to enclosures, high fencing, and 

 similar sport to be obtained by other means, the 

 retrograde movement was retarded. At the present 

 time there are eighteen packs of staghounds in 

 England and seven in Ireland, a considerable 

 increase on what has previously been. Owing to 

 the working of the Ground Game Act, which, in 

 many parts of the country, has almost exterminated 

 hares, those who followed the latter with harriers 

 had to give up hunting or seek a fresh quarry. The 

 latter was mostly done, and deer, "carted" or 

 otherwise, have thus become a common chase. 

 The chief packs which have so changed of late are 

 Sir John Amory's, in Devonshire ; the Oxenholme, 

 Westmorland ; and Mr. AUen-Jefferys', Somerset- 

 shire. Sport with the carted deer is pretty 

 certain, as when one hind or stag will not run as she 

 or he ought to do, another is speedily provided, 



