The Bloodhound. 59 



another writer says " lashing," and carried moderately high; but it is 

 of little consequence which description we accept. 



Colour has been, if it is not still, a vexed question. " Stonehenge " 

 says " black -tan, or deep and reddish fawn (no white should be shown 

 but on just the tip of the stern)." "Dogs of the British Islands" 

 (first edition) says " a reddish tan, darkening gradually towards the 

 upper parts till it becomes black on the back. A white patch on the 

 body, a white face, or a streak down it, proclaims a stain which is death 

 to all hope of purity of blood." 



I cannot believe in colour as an infallible test of purity of blood. 

 I have seen how these hounds were bred from those of various colour, 

 and Pennant, writing the end of last century, claims for them a black 

 spot over each eye a characteristic of the old Southern hound. Does 

 this ever appear in litters now ? Mr. Holford, a successful modern 

 breeder, says : " There is almost invariably more or less white on the 



chest The less white on the feet the better. There should 



be no white on any other part of the body, though few breeders would 

 reject a dog solely on account of colour if all other points were good." 



Those that are spotted with white are esteemed by many, and, when 

 thus faintly flecked or dappled, the effect is greatly to enhance the 

 appearance of the dog in the eyes of many. I certainly very much 

 admire it, but question its being any proof of purity. 



The coat is short, fine, and thick, but, of course, this is much 

 modified by the circumstances of rearing, keeping, and work. The 

 voice, once heard, is not to be forgotten : it is awfully deep and loud, 

 with a prolonged sonorous melody ; and, heard at night, when the 

 mountain echoes sullenly fling back a dull response, it has quite a solemn 

 and weird effect. 



The points of the bloodhound, as generally accepted, are : 



Head 15 



Ears and Eyes 1 



Flews and Dewlap 10 



Neck 5 



Chest and Shoulders 10 



Back and Bick Rib3 10 



Legs and Feet 20 



Colour and Coat 5 



Stern 5 



Symmetry 10 



Total ... ... 100 



