336 THE HOUND. 



says, " It is the judicious cross that makes the 

 complete pack ; " and it was the remark of this 

 practical writer, and therefore high authority 

 amongst sportsmen, that " he saw no reason why 

 the breeding of hounds may not improve till im- 

 provement can go no further." The question may 

 be asked, is not his prediction verified ? 



But the act of crossing hounds, as indeed all 

 other animals, although never thoroughly divested 

 of chance, is one of more difficulty than most people 

 would imagine, and one indeed which, bv its re- 

 suits, would often bafile, if not puzzle, the pro- 

 foundest of our modern physiologists. Our space 

 will not admit of our going at length into this in- 

 tricate subject, but great mistakes, we conceive, 

 have been made by masters of fox-hounds, in breed- 

 ing too much in-and-in, from nearest affinities, in- 

 stead of ha vino; recourse to an alien cross. This 

 was peculiarly apparent in the packs of two very 

 celebrated masters of fox-hounds, the late Sir 

 Thomas Mostyn, Bart., and the late John Corbet, 

 Esq. of Sundorne Castle, Shropshire (the former of 

 whom hunted Oxfordshire, and the latter War- 

 wickshire, each for upwards of thirty years,) who 

 bred in-and-in. Sir Thomas from a bitch called 

 Lady^ and her produce ; and Mr. Corbet from a 

 hound called Trojan^ and his produce, to the great 

 injury of their respective packs. We are aware it 

 is asserted that a pack of fox-hounds should have 

 the appearance and character of being of one family; 

 but this expression is not to be taken in its literal 

 construction. It is in the conformitv of their cha- 



