39G The Hunting Countries of England. 



and of an active sort quite different from the heavy, 

 distorted specimens of ugliness that find favour in the 

 south. While free from the lumber and ungainliness 

 of the latter, they are equally clear of the reproach of 

 sullenness in the field or of dwelling in needless 

 uproar on the line. At the same time they have a 

 tremendous note, which, in a cross with the foxhound, 

 is transmitted to their progeny. The first cross is 

 generally the most successful (as it is said to be in the 

 case of the rough Welsh hound with the English 

 foxhound), subsequent breeding tending rather to 

 perpetuate inherent faults of either side than to 

 remove them. With a few couple of these hard- 

 running, loud-tongued, hybrids in the pack, and the 

 rest of the hounds also bred to take their part in the 

 music, there is seldom any difficulty in knowing in 

 which direction the chase is proceeding, even among 

 the deep extensive woods of the Braes of Derwent. 

 Should they force their fox over the brows and drive 

 him across the well-tilled uplands, there is little or 

 nothing to prevent a good rider having a cheery 

 gallop with them. The fences are plain and tolerably 

 easy jumps — chiefly hedges and light timber, of the 

 class that holds good in Northumberland and 

 Durham generally. Most of the land is under the 

 plough — though grass fields come in here and there, 

 more often in the form of temporary seed. After 

 plenty of rain it will often hold a good scent — 

 though those who know it best do not claim for it 

 the character of " a fine scenting country." Though 

 the upland is so readily crossed, the valleys call for 

 both caution and experience. Scarcely one of these 



