THE BLACKMORE VALE HOUNDS. 219 



for quality, and beside the wonderfully successful 

 crosses I have mentioned, they went to the Belvoir, 

 Warwickshire, and Grove kennels for new blood. 

 In the years 1871-72 nearly all the entries were by 

 home-bred hounds, only one litter in the latter 

 year and two in the former showing an outcross. 



A dog-hound that was a good deal used in the 

 years 1870-71, and was a great favourite with 

 Press, was one named Lasher (1866) that came in 

 a draft from Lord Portman. Lasher was a big 

 hound with immense bone, and was one of a capital 

 litter by Lord Poltimore's Lifter ex Lord Portman's 

 Rapid, his size causing him to be drafted from 

 the home kennel. Press was very proud of this 

 hound, and used to draw any visitor's attention to 

 his girth of forearm, remarking that the bone was 

 like that of a horse. 



In 1870 there were three couples of hounds 

 entered sired by Lasher of which Melody (1867) 

 was the dam. Through Melody these hounds 

 had the blood of Mr Villebois' Satirist and 

 Lord Portsmouth's Royalist. They were all 

 good, one of the dog - hounds named Melborne 

 being a successful sire, and his sisters Madrigal, 

 Musical, and Muriel exceptionally well - formed 

 hounds. Muriel was the best of the three, and 

 took second prize at the puppy-show of her year. 

 The puppy that beat her in the opinion of the 

 judges was one named Governess (1870), daughter 

 of Lord Portsmouth's Major, and granddaughter 

 on the dam's side of Belvoir Guider. 



