90 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



still, as I have shown, very largely' represented among 

 English packs, seldom has a look in. This is, of 

 course, largely the fault of the various Masters of 

 this stamp of hound, who will not take the trouble 

 to send up representatives from their packs. The 

 question of distance and expense has, doubtless, a 

 good deal to do with the matter. 



There ought to be, in my opinion, a class for the 

 pure harrier, and I believe that such an innovation 

 would be in time very largely justified and would 

 lead to the vast improvement of many old harrier 

 packs. It cannot in justice be denied that the so-called 

 " pure " harrier ought to be represented at what 

 purports to be a harrier show.* These observations 

 are made without the least reflection on the supporters 

 of the Stud-book harrier, who have, undoubtedly, 

 done much to improve the make and shape and style 

 of a particular stamp of hound. Here let me inter- 

 pose some remarks of Colonel Robertson Aikman's 

 from the Stud-book harrier point of view, which, I 

 think, in fairness should be quoted here. His opinion, 

 as a well-known Master of harriers, and one of the 

 most noted hound-breeders in the kingdom, is worth 

 stating. 



" The Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles," 

 he writes, " instituted on March 25, 1891, has, without 

 doubt, done an immensity of good. It has brought 

 Masters together, and those who have taken advantage 

 of this have seen other countries, packs, kennels, 

 servants, and many things which have led to improve- 



* Colonel Robertson Aikman reminds me that there were 

 special classes for the old English harrier, which were only- 

 discontinued for the reason that the class did not receive 

 support — only two packs ever showing. The experiment 

 might surely be tried again in future years. 



