412 HUNTING TOURS. 



the time he began hunting the Derbyshire 

 side of the Atherstone country. 



Prodigal, another of the Rockets, was also 

 in good odour ; but there was still a greater 

 prize in store in old Furrier, presented to 

 Lord Yarborough by Mr. Osbaldeston in 

 1829. This good hound met with a sad acci- 

 dent, which incapacitated him for duty. With 

 the kindest considerations he was indulged 

 with his liberty to range about the kennels, 

 and was unfortunately scalded over the loins 

 by part of a pail of broth being accidentally 

 thrown over him. The last of his family was 

 one litter at Brocklesby in 1830, and they 

 have contributed faithfully to transmit his 

 worth to the present generation. There is 

 an extraordinary amount of this blood flowing 

 in the veins of the Rallywoods, so justly 

 celebrated in the Duke of Rutland's kennels. 

 Observations clearly establish it as a principle 

 that to breed hounds successfully, great care 

 must be preserved in selecting parents, espe- 

 cially sires, descended from families as fault- 

 less as possible. It is not merely the size, 

 symmetry, and appearance of individual 

 hounds, or their excellence in work, that 

 will afford any acceptable guarantee of their 



