THE HISTORY OF THE BEL VOIR HUNT 



which the same may be said), Brocklesby, and in lesser degree 

 Fitzwilliam and the old Lord Lonsdale's Cottesmore pack. 

 To the last two kennels, both of which are supposed to have 

 been somewhat coarse, the Belvoir went, no doubt, for size 

 and bone, as there is evidence to show they had favoured 

 their own sort till they had lost both these qualities. The 

 standard height was twenty-four inches for dogs and twenty- 

 three inches for bitches in Goosey's time, lowered to twenty- 

 three and twenty-two inches during Goodall's term of office, 

 and the height has since remained the same. 



I am indebted to some of the leading huntsmen of to-day 

 for helping me to form an estimate of the effect of the Belvoir 

 blood on other kennels. Speaking generally, it is not too 

 much to say that there is scarcely a kennel in England which 

 is not indebted directly or indirectly to Belvoir blood for its 

 best hounds. Moreover, it is curious to note that those packs 

 which have kept most nearly to Belvoir are now among the 

 most famous, both for the sport they show and for the good 

 name they have with huntsmen and masters of hounds as 

 sources from whence to improve other packs. 



Turning now from general remarks to particular instances, 

 Tom Firr, the late huntsman to the Quorn, to whose judgment 

 in breeding that pack owes so much, writes, " There is a 

 good deal of Belvoir blood in the Quorn pack, more of the 

 Weathergage sort than any other. This is certainly the best 

 working sort they have, Belvoir legs and feet are worth 

 going for." George Gillson, the Cottesmore huntsman, says 

 " the Cottesmore hounds are chiefly by the Belvoir sires " ; 

 and those who have seen Mr. Baird's beautiful pack at work, 

 or who have listened to the charming melody of these hounds 

 in the field, will agree that they do the utmost credit to their 

 parentage. Then, to go somewhat farther afield, we should 

 find that few packs of the present day are the superior of the 

 Grafton, whether for work or appearance. The sport they 

 have shown of late has been remarkably good. Their late 

 huntsman, Frank Beers, was known to be very fond of Belvoir 

 blood, and his excellent successor, Tom Bishopp, is of the 

 same opinion, for he writes, " The Grafton are all Belvoir 



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