EARL FITZWILLIAM'S HOUNDS 29 



always in the right place, and they could get forward with 

 a bad scent, hold to the hne, and wind up their fox at 

 last with untiring pertinacity. 



But the pack which approached nearest to my own 

 ideas of what fox-hounds ought to be was that of Earl 

 Fitzwilliam ; their standard ranging between twenty-four 

 and twenty-five inches, with immense power and muscle. 

 When we speak of a handsome animal of any description — 

 of a fine man or woman also — ^we expect to find a com- 

 bination of form and features, associated with correspond- 

 ing height, and so with fox-hounds — to deserve the name 

 of a fine pack, they should be of a certain standard. 

 Handsome and pretty have two distinct significations, 

 and I must confess my dishke to a term in very common 

 use, describing fox-hounds as " beauties." 



The Belvoir pack has stood high in public estimation 

 for many years, and in these latter times is become so 

 very fashionable that there are few Hsts of fox-hounds 

 throughout the kingdom where the Duke of Rutland's 

 name does not appear. I sd^y fashionable, because these 

 hounds having obtained the reputation of being the 

 fastest in England, our pace advocates have selected 

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

 other reason ; the only topic we hear discussed at the 

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

 fashion with 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 laudable act, showing 

 the genius and alacrity of the young EngHsh huntsman ; 

 whereas, it is in truth and reahty most unsportsmanlike, 

 and the surest plan to spoil a good run. 



There are occasions when a huntsman may and must 

 take advantage of a fox, to bring him to hand for the sake 



