HOUNDS. 323 



has a horn-case on his saddle, and is behind Frank Gillard, is 

 the second horseman of the great Belvoir huntsman. 



HOUNDS. 



The hounds we have to consider from a riding point of 

 view are as follows : 



1. Fox-hounds. Their height as a rule varies from 22 to 

 24 inches ; the latter measurement being equivalent to about 

 1 6 hands in a hunter. Bitches are generally about one inch 

 smaller than dogs of the same pack. Probably the best 

 height for bitches is 22 inches ; and for dogs, 23 inches. 



2. Stag-hounds. The term stag-hounds and that of buck- 

 hounds are derived from the game they respectively pursue, 

 and have no significance as regards the variety of hounds, 

 which are generally drafted fox-hounds. In the Queen's, dogs 

 run from 24 to 25 inches. Lord Coventry, the late Master, 

 liked to keep up the size, and certainly had a very smart 

 pack. Baron Rothschild's are much smaller. The Devon and 

 Somerset have hitherto been 25 and 26 inches. Captain 

 King-King wisely points out that it is advisable not to have 

 them over 22 inches for carted deer ; because, at that height 

 they could not, bar accidents, kill their quarry, which can beat 

 off, or keep at out-fighting, a whole pack, so long as he 

 remains on his feet. Big hounds can knock him off his 

 legs, but small ones cannot. Both sizes will be able to kill 

 him, if he gets down in a ditch. 



Stag-hounds hunt red-deer, both stag and hind ; and wild 

 as well as carted. Wild hinds are hunted during winter ; and 

 carted stags or hinds, any time which convenience may 

 dictate. 



3. Buck-hounds hunt wild fallow deer, both bucks and does. 

 The application of the term " buck-hounds " to the Queen's is 

 wrong, because the quarry of that pack is the carted stag. 

 The New Forest appear to be the only hounds that habitu- 



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