96 COYERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



CHAPTER X. 



THE BELVOIR HOUNDS. 



His rush-grown tail 

 O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch. 

 On shoulders clean, upright and trim he stands ; 

 His round cat-foot, straight hams, and widespread thighs, 

 And his low-drooping chest, confess his speed; 

 His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill 

 Or far extended plain ; in every part 

 So well proportion'd, that the nicer skill 

 Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. 

 Of such compose thy pack. 



Having discussed the Brocklesby as the oldest pack now in 

 existence, I may turn to the Bel voir (the Duke of Eutland's) as 

 decidedly at the present day the most fashionable ; for where is 

 the man possessing a pack of fox-hounds who does not try for a 

 bit of Belvoir blood 1 In fact, it is as hard to get away from 

 in fox-hounds as that of Waxy amongst race-horses ;. and there 

 are few who will not admit that a dip into it has been of great 

 service to them. 



When these first came into existence as a pack of fox-hounds, 

 it is impossible to say; but I believe no authentic record 

 of them can be traced beyond the date of 1730, and the 

 kennel records, traced through the late Will Goodall's care 

 and research, principally reach about 1750. Thus it wiU be 

 seen that their annals are later by some years than those of 

 the Brocklesby; but they appear to have sprung into fame 

 almost at a bound ; and the exchange of courtesies, as regards 



