CHAPTER XX 

 THE FOXHOUND 



THERE is plenty of proof that Foxhounds were the very first 

 of the canine races in Great Britain to come under the domina- 

 tion of scientific breeding. There had been hounds of more 

 ancient origin, such as the Southern Hound and the Blood- 

 hound ; but something different was wanted towards the end 

 of the seventeenth century to hunt the wild deer that had 

 become somewhat scattered after Cromwell's civil war. The 

 demand was consequently for a quicker hound than those 

 hitherto known, and people devoted to the chase began to 

 breed it. Whether there were crosses at first remains in dis- 

 pute, but there is more probability that the policy adopted 

 was one of selection ; those exceptionally fast were bred with 

 the same, until the slow, steady line hunter was improved out 

 of his very character and shape. At any rate, there are 

 proofs that in 1710 hounds were to be found in packs, carefully 

 bred, and that at that time some of the hunts in question 

 devoted attention to the fox. 



The first known kennel of all was at Wardour Castle, and 

 was said to have been established in 1696 ; but more reliable 

 is the date of the Brocklesby, commenced in 1713. The first 

 record of a pack of hounds being sold was in 1730, when a 

 Mr. Fownes sold his pack to a Mr. Bowles. The latter gentle- 

 man showed great sport with them in Yorkshire. At that 

 time Lord Hertford began to hunt the Cotswold country, in 

 Gloucestershire, and was the first to draw coverts for fox in the 

 modern style. Very soon after this it became the fashion 

 of the day to breed hounds. Many of the nobility and large 



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