CHAPTER III. 



Extraordinary Speed of Fox Hounds. — Of the Origin 

 of Hounds — The Talbot or Blood Hound, the Stag 

 Hound, the Southern Hound, the Beagle, the Fox 

 Hound. — The Olfactory Organs of the Hound. — Of 

 the Si%e, Colour, and Breeding of Hounds, Sfc. 



The kennel being prepared, its tenants of course form 

 the next subject for consideration. The breeding of 

 hounds demands the utmost attention of the sportsman ; 

 and I am incHned to think, that, up to the present period, 

 it has not been thoroughly understood : I am of opinion 

 that we have not reached the acme of perfection in this 

 respect, although I am aware that extraordinary hounds 

 have occasionally made their appearance, whose perform- 

 ances are to be found recorded in several pubhcations, 

 and who have therefore obtained a triumphant immor- 

 tahty through the medium of the press. For instance, 

 two hounds belonging to the late Mr. Barry, (then 

 master of the Cheshire hounds) Bluecap and Wanton, 

 became celebrious for micommon speed : they are said to 

 have run a drag "from the Rubbing House at New- 

 market-town-end, to the Rubbing House at the starting- 

 post of the Beacon course, in a few seconds more than 

 eight minutes," beating two capital hounds belonging to 

 the late Mr. Meyncll. Merkin, a fox-hound bitch, bred 

 by the late Colonel Thornton, ran a trial of four miles, 



