NORTH WALES FOX-HOUNDS 183 



torchlight and moonUght, with nets and night lines ; 

 and but for the rocky passes of the stream higher up, 

 through the ravines, where the fish find shelter and pro- 

 tection from the net, beneath the stones of the foaming 

 torrent, salmon and trout would soon become totally 

 annihilated in the Welsh rivers. But I am losing sight 

 of my subject in these general remarks on the other 

 sports of the country. 



On the morning of the 20th of , the quiet little 



village of M d was roused from its usual repose by 



the arrival of Mr. V 's fox-hounds. " The horn 



sonorous calls " — and the inhabitants rush out to wel- 

 come — not the eighteen or twenty couples selected, as 

 in England, for a day's sport ; not " the many-colour'd 

 hounds in all their beauty's pride," with the gay cortege 

 of pink coats, mounted on the satin-coated, racing-like 

 hunters of the Saxon ; but — tell it not at Quorn, publish 

 it not in the streets of Melton — nine aboriginal specimens 

 of the Welsh harrier honoured by the name of fox-hounds, 

 accompanied by their huntsman, made their appearance. 

 By the prolonged blast of the horn echoing through hill 

 and dale, straggling horsemen might be seen flocking in 

 hot haste to the scene, — not of action, but parade, where, 

 after time had been afforded to all beholders for the 

 inspection of the hounds, it was formally announced 

 that the hunting of the fox would commence at eight 

 o'clock on the following morning, in a covert within a 

 mile of the village. The huntsman then withdrew with 

 his darlings, of which he appeared to be not a httle 

 proud ; but as English huntsmen may be curious to 

 know something more, I will give a short description 

 of their appearance. 



The two largest and best-looking dogs, Raglan and 



