MR. OSBALDESTONS HOUNDS. 15 



which nevertheless in the end is far the most satisfactory 

 to a real and zealous sportsman. I have heard it 

 remarked by several most excellent judges of hunting, 

 and amongst them by the late Mr. J. Villebois, and 

 also by Mr. Osbaldeston, who was certainly a most 

 successful breeder of hounds in his day, that no man 

 could breed a pack from drafts under eight years, and 

 if he even succeeded to form a good one in so short a 

 time, he would be considered a most fortunate person. 

 In speaking of draft hounds, the reader must under- 

 stand, that there are two sorts, the one comprised of 

 those which are drafted annually from established 

 kennels, consisting, generally speaking, of those which 

 are nearly worn out,* such as begin to show vice in 

 their work, and such of the puppies as are too large or 

 too small, or in fact, are what may be considered inferior 

 to the lot which are " put forward" by the owner of the 

 pack. 



The other description, are such hounds as may be 

 purchased from gentlemen, who are either reducing 

 their hunting establishments, or who are forming one 

 pack from two or three, of which they may have lately 

 become possessed. The first are almost invariably the 

 perquisite of the huntsman or first man in the kennel, 

 the usual price being three guineas per couple, the 

 proceeds arising from the sale of the second description 

 more frequently find their way into the master's pocket, 

 the price, of course, is higher, varying from five to 

 fifteen and twenty guineas per couple ; drafts from 



* In some countries hounds are worn out much sooner than in others, in Hamp- 

 shire, Berkshire, and part of Wiltshire, owing; to the immense beds of tiints which 

 the pack are continually traversing, their feet are not unfrequently (juite spoilt and 

 worn out after three or four seasons' work. 



