Lord Percy's. 458 



land — that it has tlie effect of making all hounds run 

 mute^ and that^ however much cry they possess on first 

 introduction to the country, they invariably lose it after 

 a short experience there. The scent may possibly have 

 some curious property, leading to such a result ; but 

 why that result should be universal it is difficult indeed 

 to understand. That hounds already naturally inclined 

 to silence (in their case deserving any other epithet 

 than golden) should be encouraged and confirmed in 

 it by the nature of the country, is intelligible enough ; 

 for the wide open inclosures and thin straggling fences 

 offer no check whatever to their direct progress. Their 

 fox is not led to deviate much as he goes ; while they 

 can carry a head all the time, and keep moving as 

 quick as the scent will carry them. 



Lord Percy resides at Alnwick Castle ; his Kennels 

 being, as above mentioned, at Green Rig. His hounds 

 were purchased from Major Brown, who had previously 

 bought them at an almost unprecedented price from 

 Lord Poltimore. Alnwick and Eothbury are the 

 points a visitor might select as posts of observation, 

 for hunting intended. And, finally, it may be noted 

 that, for spring and autumn hunting, no better sphere 

 than that of Lord Percy's exists. 



