246 HUNTING TOURS. 



Birdcatclier ; she evinces most unmistakable 

 resemblance to the family from which she 

 is descended. Extreme cleanliness of outline, 

 with great muscular development, are essen- 

 tials of the highest order in horses required 

 to live the pace with hounds over the pasture 

 fields of Leicestershire, inheritances which 

 her grandsire, Sir Hercules, has transferred 

 to his posterity on many occasions, together 

 with the silver hairs which have doubtless 

 suggested the cognomen of this charming 

 creature. 



The horses appropriated to the use of the 

 men are of very high character ; there is not 

 a second-class animal in the stables, and 

 among such a number I never saw such uni- 

 formly good shoulders. The model of that 

 very important part appears to have been cast 

 in one form ; at any rate one very masterly 

 eye has selected them. The starry brilliancy 

 of coat affords incontestable evidence of great 

 care having been judiciously dispensed on 

 good constitutions : but a very remarkable 

 feature is the perfect coolness and freshness 

 of every horse's legs. Whatever casualties 

 occurred last season they are all removed. 

 Whitehall, however, to a great extent en- 



