208 THE AMEEICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



to get hung by all sorts of obstructions, and are bent and 

 twisted out of shape. 



In the make-up of a pack I have found spayed bitches 

 to be desirable. They are in no respect inferior to dogs, 

 and they are in every way more pleasant to handle, being 

 far less disposed to wander out of bounds or get into any 

 kind of mischief. The greatest couj)le of Foxhounds I ever 

 have known were litter sisters, spayed when about two 

 months old, which is the best time to spay. The operation 

 is simple and safe, and if performed prior to sexual devel- 

 opment is not productive of the least tendency to obesity, 

 even in old age. I have always believed that the instincts 

 of spayed bitches, if the operation precedes sexual devel- 

 opment, were, like those of worker bees, superior to the 

 sexually developed individuals. The most remarkable 

 exhibitions of nose I have ever seen, both in the Hound and 

 the Setter or Pointer, as well as the Field Spaniel, were by 

 spayed bitches. And the thing much in their favor is, 

 that they are much more patient than dogs or open bitches 

 of kennel discipline, and in my opinion, at least, less sub- 

 ject to disease. 



This article must now be brought to a close. If it shall 

 aid in inducing lovers of the Hound to act in concert to push 

 this sport to the front as the recognized national sport of 

 the American country gentleman, the object of the writer 

 will have been accomplished. If wealthy clubs of city 

 gentlemen are disposed to join in the movement to Ameri- 

 canize and nationalize this great sport, they will find the 

 country gentlemen ready to cooperate in every way. That it 

 is a matter of national importance, in connection with the 

 development of the American saddle-horse and the Amer- 

 ican horsemanship of the future, the writer does not doubt. 

 He pleads guilty to a rank enthusiasm for horse and 

 hound and horn, but he believes that he is not mistaken 

 in supposing that unless fox-hunting becomes our national 

 sport, our national horsemanship will dwindle until it 

 amounts to nothing, and all our people will take to dog- 

 carts. Whether this will be a national calamity there 

 ought not to be two opinions. 



