THE FOXHOUND. 61 



development. It is upon this formation that stoutness, and the 

 capability of bearing work day after day, mainly depend; and 

 hence all good judges both of the hunter and the hound insist so 

 strongly upon it. Nimrod (Apperley) also remarks that Beckford 

 has omitted to particularize " the length of thigh discernible in 

 fir^t-rate hounds, which, like the well-let-down hock of the horse, 

 gives them much superiority of speed, and is also a great security 

 against laming themselves in leaping fences, which they are more 

 apt to do when they become blown and consequently weak." It 

 may also be remarked, that though Beckford insists upon a middle 

 size, he does not define what he means by the term, but as fox- 

 hounds vary from 25 inches to 20, I should say 23 to 25 inches for 

 doghounds, and 21 to 23 for bitches, would be about the hight 

 meant by him. In open countries, with thin fences or walls, 

 a large hound may perhaps suit best ; but in woodlands, the 

 small size, if not too small and delicate, has many advantao-es 

 and will always beat the larger and heavier hound, who tires 

 himself in driving through the runs, which will readily ad- 

 mit the small dog or bitch. Nimrod fixed the hight at " 21 

 to 22 inches for bitches, and 23 to 24 for doghounds ;" but 

 I have given a little more latitude in the above estimate. The 

 speed of the foxhound may be estimated from the well known 

 match over the Beacon course, at Newmarket, which is 4 miles 

 1 furlong and 132 yards, and which was ruD by Mr. Barry's 

 " Bluecap " (the winner) in eight minutes and a few seconds, Mr. 

 Mcynell's hounds being not far behind ; and only twelve out of 

 sixty horsemen who started with them being with them to the end. 

 Colonel Thornton's bitch, " Merkin," is even said to have run the 

 same course in seven minutes and half a second. This speed is ac- 

 counted for by the greyhound descent, if it really exists ; and that 

 it does so I have little doubt, as it is quite clear that the old hound 

 was deficient in those points which the greyhound alone would be 

 able to give; but as this is only conjecture I have not insisted 

 upon it. 



The small rounded ear of the foxhound is due to the rounding 

 irons of the huntsman, who removes a large portion of the pup'3 



