Belvoir Blood. 95 



individual, the dog to whom that honour will be due is 

 the late Belgrave Joe. Belgrave Joe was much of the 

 stamp of rare old Chance, but a better terrier in every 

 particular, though he never came on to the show bench, 

 excepting on one occasion as a stud dog surrounded by 

 some of his progeny, because in his early years one of his 

 ears was supposed to have been tampered with. But Joe's 

 life at Richmond House was none the less happy because 

 of the stain, and he lived there until old age carried him off 

 to happy ratting grounds at the ripe old age of twenty 

 years. I fancy through this dog comes most of the Belvoir 

 blood so many persons value at the present time, for he was 

 by Belvoir Joe out of White Vic, by Branson's Tartar — his 

 Vic. Tartar was by Mr. Moore's (Appleby Hall) Ruler, 

 from the Donnington huntsman's Fairy, whilst Branson's 

 Vic was by Twister, some time with the Quorn, from 

 another Vic that originally came from one of Lord 

 Aveland's gamekeepers. This was all the so-called work- 

 ing strain ; and when we are told that most of these terriers 

 were good looking to boot, less surprise is expressed at 

 the value of their blood to-day. 



It may not be out of place here to say something about 

 these Belvoir terriers, which when W. Cooper was huntsman 

 were bred with care, as many of the earths in that country 

 were strong, and a game dog was required to drive the 

 fox from them. The main earth close to the Castle was 

 supposed to be quite a sanctuary for any hunted fox until a 

 little dog, named Doc, went under after a strong vixen, and 

 bundled her out without very much trouble, as the same dog 

 did many others on subsequent occasions. Mr. T. H. Scott, 

 near Thirsk, who some years ago took particular interest in 

 " Belvoir blood/' says he was unable to trace the present 



