BEASTS OF THE CHASE. THE STAG. 47 



The huntsman soon explained the matter. The stag had 

 gone into the cover, but had gone out on the opposite side ; and, 

 indeed, as it was afterwards proved, had never harboured there 

 at all, but some four miles off! Such a blunder, due to a 

 mixture of ignorance and carelessness, would never have 

 occurred had an expert been employed. But the great difficulty 

 in these days lies not in finding a stag, but in killing him. The 

 class of hound best fitted for hunting deer en the Exmoors is 

 very difficult to procure. 



We are of opinion that it would be well nigh impossible to 

 breed, in any establishment, a pack of hounds of sufficient size 

 and speed, though the most matured judgment should be 

 brought to bear on the undertaking. The desired height is 

 twenty-five inches, and is, therefore, probably one and a half 

 inches above that of the ordinary foxhound. Consequently it 

 is better not to attempt to breed a pack of hounds, but to de- 

 pend on drafts of oversized hounds from the best foxhound 

 kennels in the country. Even with such a prolific source to 

 draw upon it is very difficult to maintain the strength of the 

 pack. 



The reason why hounds of twenty-five inches are required 

 is apparent to anyone who has seen a pack on the Exmoors, 

 where the length of the heather sorely hinders the work of 

 hounds that do not stand well over it. Nor is it enough that the 

 hound should have height ; he must be well put together, more 

 particularly as to his ieet and shoulders. Heavy-shouldered 

 hounds very soon become crippled, however good their legs and 

 feet may be, by racing down the precipitous hills and ravines 

 that abound on the Exmoors. It will not do to take hounds 

 that have been entered at any other quarry, consequently 

 young drafts must be obtained. 



Much trouble is occasioned in breaking the pack from 

 riot. Many persons who have hunted in this district during 

 the greater part of their lives maintain that the tendency of the 

 pack to kill sheep is in a measure due to the scent of the moor- 

 land sheep being similar to that of the deer. Without being a 



