THE BLOODHOUND 



81 



and everted by the heavy flews. The eyes correspond 

 with the general tone of colour of the animal, varying 

 from deep hazel to yellow. The hazel colour is, how- 

 ever, to be preferred, although very seldom seen in 

 red-and-tan hounds. 



Ears. The ears are thin and soft to the touch, 

 extremely long, set very low, and fall in graceful 

 folds, the lower parts curling inwards and backwards. 



Wrinkle. The head is furnished with an amount 

 of loose skin, which in nearly every position appears 

 superabundant, but more particularly so when the 

 head is carried low ; the skin then falls into loose 

 pendulous ridges and folds, especially over the fore- 

 head and sides of the face. 



Nostrils. The nostrils are large and open. 



Lips, Flews, and Dewlap. In front the lips fall 

 squarely, making a right angle with the upper line of 

 the fore-face ; whilst behind they form deep hanging flews, and being continued 

 into the pendant folds of loose skin about the neck, constitute the dewlap, 

 which is very pronounced. These characters are found, though in a less degree, 

 in the bitch. 



Neck, Shotilders, and Chest. The neck is long, the shoulders muscular and 

 well sloped backwards ; the ribs are well sprung, 

 and the chest well let down between the fore-legs, 

 forming a deep keel. 



Legs and Feet. The fore-legs are straight and 

 large in bone, with elbows squarely set ; the feet 

 strong and well knuckled up ; the thighs and second 

 thighs (gaskins) are very muscular ; the hocks well 

 bent and let down and squarely set. 



Back and Loin. The back and loins are strong, 

 the latter deep and slightly arched. - 



Stern. The stern is long and tapering and set on 

 rather high, with a moderate amount of hair under- 

 neath. 



Gait. The gait is elastic, swinging, and free, the 

 stern being carried high, but not too much curled 

 over the back. 



Colour. The colours are black-and-tan, red-and- 

 tan, and tawny ; the darker colours being sometimes 



interspersed with lighter or badger-coloured hair, and sometimes flecked with 

 white. A small amount of white is permissible on chest, feet, and tip of stern. 



