The Burstow, 165 



The Burstow pack existed as harriers for nearly a 

 century (latterly under the mastership of Mr. H. 

 Kelsey, of Burstow Park), before Mr. Birkbeck 

 assisted in giving them a nobler vocation, rather more 

 than twenty years ago. Started as a farmers^ pack, it 

 has during its career never been hunted by a pro- 

 fessional. In the chase of the hare it showed 

 wonderful sport, in days when the vale scarcely 

 owned a drain, and when its followers ran on foot, 

 carrying long poles to help them over the broad 

 ditches and wide unkempt fences. By degrees the 

 country came under better cultivation, and an occa- 

 sional burst after a fox whetted the appetites of those 

 who now found it no longer possible to keep with the 

 hounds except on horseback. So it dawned on Mr. 

 Birkbeck and his friends to fly regularly for the 

 higher game ; the Old Surrey Hunt courteously met 

 the suggestion, conceding a sufficient area for the 

 purpose ; and the Burstow became henceforth a pack 

 of foxhounds. Mr. Hooker continued to hunt the 

 hounds for Mr. Kelsey till the season ^QQ-QI-j when 

 Mr. H. Gerard Hoare took his place^ and on the death 

 of Mr. Kelsey, about two years ago, also assumed 

 the duties of mastership. Excellent sport having 

 throughout accompanied his efforts. 



The pack takes its stand chiefly on its old blood, 

 aided in recent years by strains from the Badminton 

 and Yale of White Horse Kennels. The hounds are 

 all made of a pattern to go, and their tenacity in 

 clinging to a cold scent, in covert and out, is a special 

 attribute. The coverts (beech, oak scrub, and hazel 

 woods, of true Kent and Sussex type) are frequent 



VOL. II. N 



