Lord Portsmouth's. 331 



on tlie east, and the Soutli Devon on tlie soutli. The 

 Kennels could scarcely be better situated for working 

 the country ; though once a week — or at any rate once 

 a fortnight — a long journey has to be undertaken to 

 reach its-south-western corner. 



No large town lies within its borders. Exeter is 

 close at hand for the visitor ; and of itself always sends 

 out a body varying in strength according to distance 

 of fixture. The staghunter on an off day may join 

 Lord Portsmouth's hounds from either Dulverton or 

 South Molton — both of which, as already written, 

 command Exmoor and the chase of the wild red deer. 

 And to visit Devonshire without seeing this pack 

 would be almost tantamount to visiting Florence with- 

 out seeing its picture galleries. The stag will no doubt 

 be the primary object of a journey of five or six hours 

 from London ; for none but the most ardent seeker of 

 change will be likely to travel so far merely to extend 

 his experience of foxhunting. Yet, being on the spot, 

 here is the opportunity of seeing the latter sport right 

 well enacted according to the requirements of the 

 west. 



In the field or in kennel Lord Portsmouth's hounds 

 are, rightly enough, the pride of the west ; and for 

 '' fashion, form, and fling '' are not easily to be beat 

 anywhere. The blood that has so long been acquired 

 in the Eggesford Kennels is, moreover, freely dealt out 

 to the aid and improvement of neighbouring packs, 

 most of whom owe much of their merit to this source. 

 The Eggesford pack derive their chief strains from the 

 kennels of Mr. Parry, Mr. Lane Fox, Mr. Chaplin, Sir 

 Watkin Wynn, and the Belvoir, while of late an infu- 



