THE OLD ORDER CHANGES 



" They can truly be called magnificent bitches. It is 

 scarcely credible how these bitches, and also the Belvoir dog 

 hounds, measure for bone, as they average a full seven and 

 three-quarter inches thickness of the forelegs below the elbow, 

 and this is more than usually seen in a grey-hound standing 

 twenty-six inches at the shoulder, and still more marvellously 

 is the bone sustained to the ankles, as I tried several to be 

 six inches below the knees." ^ And I may say that, when in 

 this year Ben Capell showed me the lady pack, I thought 

 that the writer would have repeated his remarks had he been 

 present. 



There was also at this time (1886) a very famous lot 

 of dog hounds, nearly all of which have made their mark 

 in other kennels : Shiner, Pirate, Fencer, noted by the 

 huntsman for nose and drive ; Traitor, by the Cottesmore 

 Prodigal, said to be one of the finest bred hounds in 

 England ; Spartan, a large powerful hound just over the 

 standard, but sure to find a fox if one was in the covert, 

 and with a deep-toned truthful note, the sound of which 

 allowed of no doubt. Spartan was by Fallible — Speedwell, 

 the former being an instance of the successful introduc- 

 tion of Fitzwilliam blood, and through their Furrier goes 

 back to the Badminton Flyer and Helpful, to renew the 

 ancient connection with the other ducal pack. Another 

 hound of great repute, both in his own kennel and among 

 other breeders, was Stainless, of which dog Mr. Lowe writes : 

 "Stainless, the model of a twenty-three-inch fox-hound." This 

 hound was also by Fallible, which became a very favourite strain 

 of blood in other kennels. At this time the whole kennel were 

 beautifully true to colour and type, as they have been now for 

 many years. I give a list in the appendix of the hounds 

 other than of the Belvoir tan, which was kindly sent to me 

 by Mr. Frank Gillard, who took the trouble to compile it for 

 this work. 



But the hand of death, which had been busy with the field, 



and had removed so many of the Duke's supporters and 



friendly rivals, was now laid on the master himself, and the 



* Fields July 31st, 1886, p. 162. 



329 



