ANECDOTE OF A HUNTER. 67 



THE FOX HOUND. 



THE most fashionable Fox HOUND of the late and present times, is of the 

 middle height of the Hound Species, comparatively slender, and bearing a strong 

 resemblance, indeed proof of affinity, with the Greyhound, in the head, ear, neck 

 and shoulder. He is doubtless descended from the old Northern hound, which was 

 the lightest and speediest known, and said to be a cross between the Greyhound 

 and the slow Hound of those days. Additional and periodical crosses with the 

 Greyhound, have since taken place, joined perhaps with other Varieties, and from 

 the portraits of certain crack individuals which have been published, it appears 

 probable that, at no former period, have the hounds of this species been so light, 

 active, and speedy, as within the last forty years, and at the present time. Nor do 

 we hear any complaint among modern Sportsmen, as among the ancient, of the 

 excess of Greyhound form or qualities in the present Fox Hound, or of a want of 

 nose, steadiness", or stoutness. On the contrary, the best packs of this improved 

 breed have found and killed more Foxes in their seasons, than any other and slower 

 breeds could boast, running as long and desperate chases. The immense prices 

 they have fetched, individually or in packs, have beggared all former precedent, 

 and they have been the admiration of those foreigners who during their residence 

 in this country, among other curiosities, novelties to them, have paid attention to 

 our Turf and Field Sports. 



We have before nevertheless remarked that, those light bred Hounds have the 

 fairer opportunity of shewing off their peculiar qualification of speed, in a light 

 and open Country, where in a trying day, the highest bred horses only, have the 

 stroke or speed in a sufficient degree, to hold way, or keep within any reasonable 

 distance of them, or to crown their course by being in at the Death. And all our 

 packs, particularly in deep and heavy countries, are certainly not of the high- 

 crossed species of which we are speaking, but many, perhaps most of them, of a 

 useful medium in that respect. In such a medium, are the Couple of Hounds in 

 the adjoining plate, the originals of which supported a high character, as leaders, 

 in a celebrated Pack, and which would have figured as crack hounds over any 

 country. 



The following instance will prove the necessity of making proper choice of a 

 Hunter to follow speedy Hounds. A friend of ours upon a visit in Surrey, took a 

 day's hunt over the Downs with a neighbouring" pack. He was mounted upon a 

 powerful and well-bred hunter, which had carried him a season or two, in a deep 

 country ; his servant upon a large half-bred mare, which also in that country, had 



