FOX-HOUNDS 91 



loaded ; also a want of muscle in the arm and 

 forelegs, and the most common fault in the make 

 of hounds not being straight below the knee. 

 No. 2 is not only crooked there, but much too 

 long from the knee to the foot, which is also long 

 and flat, instead of being short and round like a 

 cat's foot. The same faults with the hinder-legs, 

 too great length from the foot to the hock, instead 

 of the length being from the hock upwards to the 

 hip — a great point in hounds and horses, and a 

 criterion of strength for speed : for instance, com- 

 pare it with a hare. No. 2 also shows weakness 

 in the hock itself, which is small instead of large, 

 and also a falling off in muscle in the haunches or 

 gaskins, which should be wide and full, like a hare 

 trussed for the spit ; the loins are also weak, and 

 would be called slack in the loins. It is also 

 flat-sided, not deep enough in the ribs, conse- 

 quently the frame is not large enough to give the 

 lungs free play, and it could not possibly be a good- 

 winded hound. But to judge of the frame of a 

 hound, its head should be between the person's 

 knees, in order that he may see the width of ribs 

 behind the shoulders, where most hounds fall off, 

 though this is not observed by the generality of 

 persons who look at hounds. It is also right to 

 stand at the side as well, to see if the legs are 

 straight and do not stand over at the knee, or 



