THE STAG HOUND 139 



and proportions of two or three beauties becomingly attired 

 as 3'eomen prickers. . 



But, passing from their successes on the stage, drafts from 

 the Queen's pack distinguished themselves in many ways 

 during my time. Falkland (the hound I have already men- 

 tioned) was a weakish ill-coupled dog, but had the blood of 

 all the best kennels in his veins, and covered himself with 

 wounds and glory worthy of his namesake. 



In thee alone, fair land of liberty, 

 Is bred the perfect hound, in scent and speed 

 As yet unrivalled, while in other climes 

 Their virtue fails — a weak, degenerate race. 



Somerville is quite right, and it may here be pointed out that 

 only English blood answers with boarhounds, and that a 

 pack of boarhounds must be constantly recruited from 

 England. It is admitted by French authorities, notably by 

 the late Due d'Aumale, who told me so himself, that even the 

 produce of English hounds mated in France will not do as 

 well, climate and conditions apparently having a detrimental 

 effect upon their fire and courage. A pied hound called 

 Woodman, which I drafted for rather lumpy shoulders and 

 a suspicious tendency to the kennel lameness once so dreaded 

 at Ascot, was sent by Harvey to Captain Peacocke, who 

 was at that time hunting his old country, the Isle of Wight, 

 and Captain Peacocke wrote to me afterwards that Wood- 

 man was invaluable on a road, although not distinguished 

 for drawing. And a bitch named Nellie, which was too 

 small for us, went to Prince Murat, and entered so well at 

 roedeer — a most difficult animal to hunt — that he told me 

 last year that he was breeding from her. 



Up in my part of the world there is a celebrated pack of 

 blue-mottled harriers known to a wide circle of admirers 

 and friends as the Rossendale. They are ridden to by the 

 subscribers, but have always been hunted on foot by tw^o 



