THE BELVOIR HOUXDS. 97 



sires, between these two celebrated kennels, has been almost 

 continual, so that their blood must be looked upon as nearly 

 identical. Neither is there much difference in the style of 

 hound bred, though at Belvoir they have selected a rather 

 smaller standard, rejecting any dog-hound which exceeded 

 twenty-tliree inches, at least in any noticeable degree, while at 

 Erocklesby the more usual standard of twenty-four inches has 

 been the limit. Another peculiarity at the Duke of Rutland's 

 is that they have been very particular with regard to colour, 

 adhering to a rich black, white, and tan, the latter colour some- 

 what predominating, so that '' the Belvoir tan " has passed into 

 a recognized colour amongst fox-hounds ; and assuredly a very 

 rich and gay colour it is, though no one with less means for 

 breeding and walliing puppies than Belvoir supplies could 

 afford to draft for it to such an extent as has there been done, 

 however, I am free to admit that I have sometimes seen a 

 hound on the flags there who was not quite of the orthodox 

 colour, but then he was in other respects too perfect to part 

 with. This colour is said to have been derived from a draft 

 they had from Lord jMonson. 



There is yet another peculiarity of this pack, first introduced, 

 I believe, in Lord Forester's time (when he had the manage- 

 ment), which is the great perfection to which they bring the 

 form of their legs and feet ; so that often, in looking over a 

 young hound in other kennels, a remark as to a slight deficiency 

 in those important jDarts has been met by the huntsman with — 

 " AVell, there's not much the matter, sir, but perhaps he would 

 not quite do at Belvoir." ^ 



Whether other points quite as important have not been 

 sacrificed at times to obtain the colour and the legs and feet, is 



1 It is a well-known fact that Osbaldeston's celebrated hound Furrier 

 was a draft from Belvoir; and he was by no means so good on his legs 

 as he should have been ; so that the squire, when any one wanted to view 

 him in front, would squeak out, "Not that way ! not that way ! look at him 

 sideways." 



H 



