210 



VERTEBRATA. 



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OLD ENGLISH HOUND. 



expended on a single pack. A. pack of hounds sometimes costs two thousand guineas in the first 

 purchase, and that sum has even been paid for ten couples of a favorite breed. Often several 

 packs aic united iii the hunt. The fox is run down, it being esteemed a mean and unworthy act 

 to shoot one of these animals. The fox is indeed considered as designed for the sport of the 

 gentry, and to dispose of it in any othermanner than for their pleasure is an offense against good 

 society. Every thing that experience, money, and skill can suggest to give dignity and zest to 

 this sport, is employed. Books are written upon every branch of the subject. Magazines are 

 devoted to it; men are brought up and carefully trained in the profession of breeding and break- 

 ing horses and dogs for the chase. There are dog-breeders, dog-trainers, dog-physicians, dog- 

 surgeons, dog-architects, and each is honored in his way. Nay, we are told by a celebrated writer 

 on field-sports, that the hunter himself should be carefully disciplined — as if the fox-chase were 

 the great end of lite. "A huntsman," says Beckford, "should be attached to the sport, and 

 indefatigable, young, strong, active, bold, and enterprising in the pursuit of it. He should be 

 sensible, good-tempered, sober, exact, and cleanly — a good groom and an excellent horseman. 

 His \oire should be strong and clear, with an eye so quick as to perceive which of his hounds 

 carries the scent when all are running, and an ear so excellent as to distinguish the leading 

 bounds when he does not see them. He should be quiet, patient, and without conceit. Such 

 are the qualities which constitute perfection in a huntsman. He should not, however, be too 

 fond of displaying them until called forth by necessity; it being a peculiar and distinguished 

 trait in his character to let his hounds alone while they thus hunt, and have genius to assist them 

 u hen thej cannot." 



In illustration of the extent to which sporting is carried on in England, we may state that the 

 dog-kennel of the I)uke of Richmond cost thirtv thousand dollars. Youatt tells us with an 

 evident feeling of admiration, that in its construction the duke was his own architect, assisted 

 by, and under the guidance of, Mr. Wyatt. " lie dug his own flints, burned his own lime, and con- 

 ducted the \* l-wori in his own shops. This dog-kennel is a grand object when viewed from 



Iwood, The front is handsome, the ground well raised about it, and the general effect good ; 

 the open court in the center adds materially to the noble appearance of the building. The en- 

 trance to ihr kennel i> delineated in the center with a flight of stairs leading above. The 

 huntsmen's rooms, four in number, firsl present themselves; each of them is fifteen feet four 

 inches, by fourteen feel six inches. At each end of the side toward the court is one of the feed- 

 ing-rooms, twenty-nine feel by fourteen feet four inches, and nobly-constructed rooms they arc. 

 At the hack of the feeding-rooms are one set of the lodging-rooms, from thirty-five feet six 



