SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 189 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



The Kennel Register Genealogical book of reference Breeding from 

 too near relationship High courage in foxhounds indispensable 

 Blood always tells Interchange of civilities between masters 

 Mutual confidence Exchange of stud hounds Belvoir, Bad- 

 minton, Brocklesby, and Milton packs Bramham Moor and 

 Badsworth Earl of Wemyss and Duke of Buccleuch The new 

 Master of the Quorn Huntsman's Diary Earthstoppers List 

 of hounds Efficiency before numbers Our first essay in the 

 field Numerical strength a deception. 



THERE are two books usually kept in all foxhound 

 kennels of any pretensions to the lucidus ordo of 

 doing things. One is the register of births and 

 parentage, the young hounds of every season's 

 entry being regularly inserted therein. This book 

 is carefully preserved and handed down from one 

 huntsman to another, although considered an heir- 

 loom in the family of the master, as proving the 

 genealogical descent of the pack. Without this 

 book to refer to, it would be impossible for a new 

 huntsman to go on breeding hounds with any 

 prospect of success, since too near relationship 

 between sporting dogs of all kinds, particularly 

 foxhounds, has been discountenanced by all expe- 

 rienced sportsmen and masters from the earliest 

 periods. We have heard it asserted by breeders 

 of cattle, that breeding in-and-in, as it is called, 



