258 HUNTING TOURS. 



voice is invaluable in the dense woodlands of 

 a provincial country, may be quite out of 

 his element over the open fields of Leicester- 

 shire, where pace is indispensable. It is not 

 a very difficult matter for a master of hounds 

 who has had practice, and is gifted with an 

 eye for symmetrical proportions, to collect 

 a lot of handsome rogues, if he will only be 

 industrious, and search for the beauties that 

 are condemned and drafted for vices and 

 misdemeanours. But how will such preten- 

 ders deport themselves? They may have 

 runs, with two or three couples leading, 

 doing all the work, with the remainder fol- 

 lowing in the rear, at wide intervals, doing 

 nothing, unless perchance " babbling behind," 

 than which the antecedent failing is far more 

 venial. Such collections — packs of hounds 

 I cannot call them — may kill foxes, but the 

 manner in which they accomplish that desi' 

 deratum will not bear description. I have 

 witnessed such performances, but I decline 

 the honour of recording them, so let them 

 pass without further comment. Mr. Clowes 

 is fortunate in having no such difficulties to 

 contend with. He has got a clever pack 

 of hounds, composed of good materials. 



