40 The Hunting Countries of England. 



THE BUETON AND THE BLANKNEY.* 



Not only may Lincoln be set down as tlieir common 

 centre ; but we may go so far as to add tbat no other 

 available base offers itself_, from wbicli to hunt in 

 either country. Again, the area of each being limited, 

 all the meets of both are within reach of the cathedral 

 town ; and you will find excellent hunting on all 

 sides. Both possess hounds of high repute ; both are 

 well stocked with foxes ; and both are well and 

 liberally managed. The Burton hounds claim a 

 strong relationship with the Grove while taking thlfr 

 foundation from a pack brought from Mr. Chaplin 

 some half dozen years ago. The Blankney, with a 

 variety of blue blood in their veins, have been bred 

 to a type which stands quite alone. For fashion and 

 class Mr. Chaplin^ s present hounds shine out as 

 distinctly apart from ordinary packs, as racehorses 

 among hunters. Blood and breeding are relied upon 

 as the root and source of all needful qualities ; and 

 it is claimed on their behalf that in the field they are 

 wanting in none of the virtues possessed by coarser 

 bred hounds. Moreover, that when a more plebeian 

 class begins to tire in the late afternoon, these are 



Vide " Stanford's Railway and Hunting Map," sheet 10. 



