THE SCOTCH DEERHOUKD. 175 



being too close together. These points, therefore, should 

 be carefully examined. The elbows must be well let down, 

 to give length to the true arm, and should be quite straight; 

 that is, neither turned in nor out. The stifles should be 

 wide apart, and set well forward, to give length to the 

 upper thigh. Many otherwise well-made Deerhounds are 

 very straight in their stifles. 



The high symmetry (value 10) of this dog is essential to 

 his position as a companionable dog, and it is therefore 

 estimated accordingly. Quality is also to be regarded as 

 of great importance. 



Legs and quarters (value 7|). Great bone and muscle 

 must go to the formation of these parts, and the bones must 

 be well put together at the knees and hocks, which should 

 be long and well developed. The quarters are deep, but 

 seldom wide, and there is often a considerable slope to the 

 tail. Some of the most successful dogs lately exhibited 

 have been nearly straight-backed, but this shape is not 

 approved of by deer-stalkers. 



The feet (value 7J) should be well arched in the toes, 

 and cat-like; a wide-spreading foot is often met with, but 

 they should be specially condemned. 



Color and coat (value 10). The colors most in request 

 are dark-blue, fawn, grizzle, and brindle, the latter with 

 more or less tint of blue. The fawn should have the tips 

 of the ears dark, but some otherwise good fawns are pale 

 throughout. The grizzle generally has a decided tint of 

 blue in it. White is to be avoided either on breast or toes, 

 but it should not disqualify a dog. The coat (value 5) is 

 coarser on the back than elsewhere, and by many good 

 judges it is thought that even on the back it should be 

 intermediate between silk and wool, and not the coarse hair 

 often met with; and there is no doubt that both kinds of 

 coat are found in some of the best strains. The whole body 

 is clothed with a rough coat, sometimes amounting to shag- 

 giness; that of the muzzle is longer in proportion than else- 

 where; but the mustache should not be wiry, and should 

 stand out in regular tufts. There should be no approach 



