360 THE HOUND. 



driven bejond their knowledge by their pressing 

 method of hunting up to them, a method quite 

 unpractised by the old long-eared harrier. The 

 parent stock of this pack was a small fox-hound 

 from the Duke of Grrafton's kennel, called Tyrant, 

 whose blood, form, and character were strikingly 

 apparent throughout ; and so great was its cele- 

 brity, that it fetched the highest price ever known 

 to be given for harriers — namely, seven hundred 

 guineas, by Lord Sondes of Rockingham Castle, 

 Northamptonshire. Sir John, however, deserved 

 success. He bred upwards of seventy couples of 

 hounds every year, and had an establishment of 

 horses, &c., nearly equal to fox-hounds. The hare- 

 hounds bred for many years by Mr. Yeatman of 

 Stock House, Dorsetshire, (who lately resigned 

 the Blackmore vale country, in which he hunted 

 foxes,) came next to Sir John's in the true form 

 and character of the modern harrier. 



The Stag-Hound. — The English stag-hound is 

 now known only by name, as there are none of the 

 breed kept for the purpose of hunting the wdld- 

 stag ; and such deer as are turned out before his 

 Majesty's, and the few other packs that follow this 

 game are hunted by fox-hounds of the highest 

 blood that can be procured. And the change is a 

 good one ; for although the English stag-hound 

 was a noble animal of his kind, he w^as not suffi- 

 ciently speedy, nor perfect in his work, to satisfy 

 the present taste, and he was likewise too much 

 given to dwell on the scent in chase, as well a? of 



