The Hunting Year 



tions a hound to illustrate his particular opinions 

 on shape and make. Then the various lines 

 of blood become subjects of debate, and we who 

 are not of the learned in hound lore listen with 

 something approaching awe to the way in 

 which hound pedigrees are glibly run over. 

 Beaufort Justice, Lord Henry Bentinck's strain, 

 and the magic names of Foljambe and 

 Osbaldeston, the Brocklesby Rallywood, Lord 

 Coventry's Rambler and other foxhound cele- 

 brities come " trippingly on the tongue," and 

 here and there a huntsman will drop in a word 

 about our old Statesman or Warwick. Then 

 when the Belvoir Weathergauge is mentioned, 

 from all the little group there comes a regular 

 chorus of appreciation, and the hound talk from 

 the standpoint of the flags comes to a close with 

 an abundance of evidence to confirm the opinion 

 that for work and appearance the stock of the 

 Belvoir Weathergauge and their descendants 

 are not to be beaten. 



From hounds on the flags to hounds in the 

 field is not a very difficult transition, and soon 

 our group of friends are busy talking over the 



14 



