TWO DISTINCT BREEDS. 37 



dious rings to recover it, nor so slow that for want of 

 speed they will lose the sent, and let it grow cold 

 by their own lasinesse, so that I conclude the 

 middle-sized hound of good' strength, sound 

 mouth; and reasonable speed, which will make a 

 horse gallop fast and not runne, is the best for 

 the true art and use of hunting/' 



It is manifest, therefore, that in Markham's 

 time two distinct breeds of fox-hounds were well 

 known ; and this distinction may be clearly seen in 

 the kennels of the Duke of Beaufort and Lord 

 Fitzwilliam, as belonging to the larger class, when 

 compared with those of the Duke of Rutland 

 and Lord Yarborough ; this distinctive difference 

 has, however, been gradually wearing away, by the 

 crosses so continually made between the two 

 species ; but even at this date, it is not unusual to 

 find specimens in several kennels, which clearly 

 show their original descent, by a width of head, 

 coarseness of neck, and^ bulkiness of frame, 

 generally so much at variance with the fashionable 

 form of the present day. 



Some thirty years ago, when making a tour of 

 inspection to some of the first kennels of the 

 country, I was much struck with the different ap- 

 pearance of the Belvoir and Cottesmore packs. 

 The Duke of Rutland's hounds, then under the 



