236 THE TEINITY FOOT BEAGLES 



When I took over the hounds there were a lot of big dog hounds, 

 and, what was worse, a lot of them were mute. These I drafted, and 

 generally aimed at getting the pack more level, about fifteen inches 

 Though I disKked big hounds, I found that if too small they could not 

 stand the heavy plough and the constantly getting wet crossing the 

 dykes in the fen country. The bitches were a very useful lot, and 

 amongst the best were Fairmaid and her three daughters. Fretful, 

 Frantic, and Friendly; also Garnish, a black -and -tan, and a 

 wonderfully good hound in her work, especially as a road hound. 

 Victory, Gaiety, Earity, and Justice were also first-rate hounds. 

 The two dog hounds to whom T.F.B. appear to have been most 

 indebted for their best hounds were Victor, by Malpas, Mabel ex 

 Malpas, Countess, and Boaster, bought from Mr. Wynn. This 

 blood was combined in Gambler by Victor ex Guilty, litter sister 

 to Garnish, and I consequently used him for my own pack, the 

 Charnwood, and he bred me Fanciful, a very good-looking hound, and 

 from my Ptosebud, by T.F.B. Eingwood ex their Eosebud, he bred me 

 a Htter of four, three of them being red, and one of them was dam 

 of Eeveller, champion at Peterborough in 1909. I mention tliis 

 because these were the first red or liver-coloured beagles I ever saw, 

 and I am at a loss to account for the colour as there was no trace of 

 it as far back as I can trace these hounds. 



To Kidd belongs the credit of breeding what 1 consider the best- 

 looking dog hound T.F.B. have ever had, viz. Forman, a perfect 

 topped hound, with good shoulders, well set on neck and head, 

 wonderfully sprung ribs, good back and quarters, and well carried 

 stern. His top was hard to crab, and the only fault I could find was 

 with his front ; he was too broad and a little out at elbows, but this I 

 put down entirely to having entered him too young — he was entered 

 when little over six months old, and never missed comino; out three 

 days a week — no wonder his front feet went ! 



Fretful, his dam, was a beautiful little hound on harrier hnes. 

 She would be hard to beat at Peterborough now, but in her day ear 

 and head properties were what were most considered in beagles. 



I forgot to mention that I tried at tlie commencement of my 

 Mastership to get the pack entered en masse in the Stud Book, but, 



