344 HUNTING TOURS. 



I have consulted, who, from having hunted 

 constantly with thera, is able to form correct 

 conclusions. There are many packs of the 

 present day very deficient in hunting powers 

 — nose, industry, and sagacity — in which 

 some cross is greatly needed to impart those 

 important faculties. So much attention has 

 been devoted to pace and beauty, that many 

 important desiderata have been materially 

 sacrificed. Several crosses from the blood- 

 hound must necessarily take place, but I 

 am persuaded that it is the only strain 

 calculated to do good service in many kennels 

 where there is deficiency of those qualities 

 inherent in the bloodhound. Many masters 

 of hounds and huntsmen are opposed to it, I 

 am well aware, under the impression that 

 hounds so bred have not the pace and endur- 

 ance ; that they are defective in their legs and 

 feet, weak over the loins, and light in their 

 thighs. During the first four or five crosses 

 such imperfections may prevail, but not so 

 when the system has been thoroughly carried 

 out, as was the case with Mr. Baker's. The 

 pack, in 1861, consisted of forty-three and 

 a-half couples, whereof eleven and a-half 

 couples are of the Wheatland strain; the 



