130 SPORTING REMINISCENCES [1825 to 



have power, particularly in the loins, or they 

 would not only not get up the hills quick 

 enough for their foxes, but they would not be 

 able to carry the weight that sticks to their 

 feet over these greasy fallows. They must 

 have high form and symmetry, or they would 

 not do what is required of them ; neither 

 would they do for Mr. Villebois. They must 

 be fed light, for more reasons than one ; but 

 those are too obvious to require notice.* 

 Mr. Tiiiebois' " From some circumstances I have 

 hounds. mentioned, it will readily appear 

 that Mr. Villebois is very strong in his own 

 blood ; and, with the exception of a few 

 Fitzwilliam bitches, and now and then a cross 

 from his neighbours, he is not much indebted 

 to distant kennels. The character of his 

 hounds is very strongly marked. They are 

 particularly deep in their fore-quarters ; short 

 and straight in their legs ; a little arched in 

 their backs ; very clear in their throats ; heads 

 well set on ; rich in their colours ; and, being 

 lightly feci, have a very airy appearance. 

 From the number he enters — never less than 

 twenty-two couples — he is able to keep up 

 that strength in his kennel which the severity 



* I have purposely omitted all pedigrees of hounds, as I imagine 

 but few would care to know if Mr. Villebois' famous Rouser was the 

 son of Romulus or Remus. 



