204 THE AMEEICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



" Than a brother to his own sister," said my father with 

 a laugh. 



Breed the best to the best is the best rule I know by 

 which to breed red fox Hounds. 



A Hound not capable o,f catching a red fox is of no value 

 to a fox-hunter. Ninety -nine out of one hundred of the 

 Hounds of the country can not do it. And if the American 

 Hound is to be made what he should be, it is time to begin 

 at once to find out where any such Hounds are as have 

 demonstrated, by actual kills, their fitness to be bred from. 

 It is of no use to bring English Hounds here expecting 

 them to be able to do anything with our foxes; nor to 

 expect to produce a killing pack by breeding from im- 

 ported Hounds. I know at present one Hound only, bred 

 even on one side (the dam's) from an imported Hound, that 

 is able to kill a red fox. I have never seen an imported 

 Hound able to do it. If killing packs are located by those 

 ambitious to become owners of such Hounds, they must 

 not expect to get them fora low price; one hundred dollars 

 would be only a moderate figure for a good Hound. I know 

 many dear at a dollar per hundred. No animal that lives 

 is more worthless than a worthless Hound. 



A few thoughts and suggestions as to kennel manage- 

 ment are now in order. Let everything in this line be 

 simple, natural as possible, and inexpensive. Expensive- 

 ness means artificiality, and that means a worthless pack. 

 A pack of Hounds should associate together as much as is 

 allowable with a minimum of restraint. One good-sized 

 building in the center of a yard inclosed by a picket-fence 

 is the best arrangement. There should be no floor except 

 the ground, and there should be an ordinary door to admit 

 a man of full height without stooping; also a good and 

 well-hung and latched gate to the yard, and a lock on door 

 and gate. 



Ordinarily the door should stand open, and should be 

 hooked to the side of the building to keep it open. The 

 floor must be kept littered with clean straw or shavings, or 



