104 THE HOUND. 



His wide op'ning nose 



Upward he curls, and his large sloe-black eyes 

 Melt in soft blandishments, and humble joy : 

 His glossy skin, or yellow-pied, or blue, 

 In lights or shades by nature's pencil drawn, 

 Reflects the various tints; his ears and legs 

 Fleckt here and there, in gay enamell'd pride, 

 Rival the speckled pard: his rush-grown tail 

 O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch ; 

 On shoulders clean, upright and firm he stands; 

 His round cat-foot, straight hams, and wide-spread thighs, 

 And his low-dropping chest, confess his speed, 

 His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill, 

 Or far extended plain. 



The Fox-hound, to be of perfect form, should 

 have his legs straight, and feet round and not too 

 large. His shoulders should lie back ; his breast be 

 rather wide than narrow; his chest deep, and his 

 back broad. His neck should be thin, his head 

 small, and his tail thick and bushy. As to size, 

 Dogs that are of a middle stature are often as fleet 

 and true as any ; but in the same pack, all the Dogs 

 should be as nearly of the same size as possible. 

 The colour, either of Fox-hounds or Harriers, is 

 considered a matter of no further importance, than 

 as it concerns the beauty of their appearance. 



Forty couple of Fox-hounds are considered a 

 sufficient pack to admit of hunting three times a 

 week, (allowing twenty five couple the usual al- 

 lotment for the field,) unless the country be ex- 

 tremely bad for laming Hounds. And even then, 

 Kay the sportsmen, the number taken into the field 



had, 



