HUNTING TOURS. 125 



CHAPTER VII. 



the cottesmore country and sir john 

 trollope's hounds. 



Surrounded by the most distinguished 

 countries, of which the sporting spirit of 

 England is so justly proud, it would be pas- 

 sing strange if the Cottesmore did not par- 

 ticipate in most of their perfections. Nay, 

 more, it rejoices in some advantages which 

 are wanting in other places. Woodlands, 

 wherein the future hopes of the pack can be 

 initiated in the mysteries of the chase, which 

 all masters of hounds know how to appre- 

 ciate ; yet in the adjoining country, called 

 High Leicestershire, comparatively there are 

 none, while in many of the provincials they 

 are far too numerous. The happy medium is 

 seldom enjoyed ; that happy medium, how- 

 ever, most unequivocally applies to the Cot- 

 tesmore country, where those essential agents 



