EAUL PITZWILLIAM'S HOUNDS. 39 



that of Earl Eitzwilliani ; tlieir standard ranging 

 between tAventy-four and twenty-five inclies, with 

 immense power and muscle. When we speak of a 

 handsome animal of any description — of a fine man 

 or Avoman also — we expect to find a combination 

 of form and features, associated with correspond- 

 ing height, and so Avith fox-hounds — to deserve 

 the name of a fine pack, they should be of a cer- 

 tain standard. Handsome and j??;*e//j/ have tAA'O dis- 

 tinct significations, and I must confess my dislike 

 to a term in very common use, describing fox- 

 hounds as "beauties.'' 



The Belvoir pack has stood high in public esti- 

 mation for many years, and in these latter times 

 is become so very fashionable that there are few 

 lists of fox-hounds throughout the kingdom Avhere 

 the Duke of Rutland's name does not appear. 1 

 ^?iy fasJdonable, because these hounds having ob- 

 tained the reputation of being the fastest in Eng- 

 land, our pace advocates have selected that blood, 

 more, I believe, on that account than for any other 

 reason ; the only topic Ave hear discussed at the 

 covert side, anent fox-hunting, being pace. It is 

 the fashion Avith our young huntsmen of the present 

 school to clap their hounds on to the fox's brush 

 at breaking, and this is applauded as a most laud- 

 able act, shoAving the genius and alacrity of the 



