THE FOXHOUND 15 



If we can rely upon shape, conformation, 

 hound characteristics, and general appearance, 

 then we are indebted more to the French than 

 the English hound for our original stock. I 

 have seen many packs in different parts of 

 France that certainly resemble our old time 

 native black and tan, long eared, long headed, 

 high peaked, deep mouthed hounds, much more 

 than the English hound, though the present 

 American hound judged by the National Fox- 

 hunters Association more closely resembles the 

 English. 



As far back as the Revolutionary War the 

 chief sport and pastime of the South was hunt- 

 ing, and while no regular organized hunts were 

 established, every Southern gentleman of means 

 had his own hounds and was as proud and 

 jealous of their reputation as of those of his 

 horses and his family. While at this period no 

 tabulated pedigrees were kept, nor hounds reg- 

 istered, no stud book having been established, 

 each owner was as careful in the breeding of 

 his hounds to good performers only as he was 

 of his racers. In the North at this period a 

 few straggling individual hounds were owned, 

 not to chase the fox, but to drive him and deer 

 within range of a ten-bore gun waiting to per- 

 forate their pelts with buck shot. 



