A GLANCE AT ENGLISH PACKS 129 



of moisture by the limestone may explain absence 

 of scent in dry weather. Some of the country is rough, 

 and to those who hunt to ride it may be monotonous 

 to jump nothing but stone walls, which are seldom 

 small, often formidable, and cut a horse badly if he 

 makes a mistake. On the whole, I doubt it there 

 are many or any better countries for hare-hunting." 



At one time another pack existed in this part of 

 Derbyshire, known locally as the " Chapel Harriers," 

 which were real old-fashioned harriers, trencher-fed, 

 kept at Chapel-en-le-Frith, Dove Holes, and the 

 villages round. These hounds are described to me 

 by an old inhabitant, who remembers them well as 

 a lad, as of all colours and sizes, blue-pied, brown-pied, 

 black and tan, yellow, and white. In 1845, or there- 

 abouts, they were hunted on foot by a working man, 

 named Green, a strong, wiry fellow, who, in his grey 

 coat and brass buttons, looked a typical moorland 

 huntsman. In his absence another working man, 

 known as " Owd Jim Noble," used to carry the horn. 

 " Owd Jim " was a most enthusiastic huntsman, 

 and his holloa was to be heard far away across the 

 country-side. 



The Isle of Man Harriers are a comparatively new 

 introduction, having been established so recently as 

 1893 by Mr. Leigh Goldie Taubman, who remained 

 Master till 1899. They hunt all over the island, going 

 out twice a week. The pack consists of fourteen 

 couples of seventeen-inch modern harriers, and is 

 kennelled at The Nunnery. 



Returning to the mainland, and proceeding further 

 south, we come to Cheshire, where the Wirral, with 

 kennels at Hooton, are to be found. This pack con- 

 sists of twenty-nine couples of pure harriers, ranging 

 from nineteen to twenty inches, entered in the harrier 



I 



