HOUNDS OF ENGLAND. 



63 



Also hunt part of Durham. Mr. Wilkinson has had 

 the Hurworth Hounds for twelve, and they have belonged 

 to his family for more than sixty years. They were origi- 

 nally bred from the Duke of Leeds and Lord Darling- 

 ton^s kennels; but since Mr. Wilkinson became possessed 

 of them, he has resorted chiefly to Lord FitzwiUiam, Sir 

 Tatton Sykes, and Mr. Foljambe, for his blood. When the 

 late Duke of Cleveland's hounds were sold, nine couple of 

 them were purchased by Mr. Wilkinson, for " the Hurworth.' ' 

 Mr. Wilkinson has some rare hunting blood in his veins, 

 being nearly related to that Mr. Wilkinson, so eloquently 

 described by Nimrod as " an English sportsman of the old 

 stamp ; keen, beyond words ; resolute and daring in his 

 favourite pursuit ; and of a frame not of the doubtful gender, 

 but manly and powerful, and formed for hardships.'' 



This is an open country, consisting of small gorse covers, 

 full of foxes, chiefly plough ; but always holding a scent. It 

 is also very level, except in a small portion of the Wolds. 

 Nimrod says : " There is one characteristic of the Holder- 

 ness country which must be highly flattering to the gentle- 



