THE CHOICE OF HOUNDS 25 



As some brave captain, curious and exact, 

 By his fix'd standard forms in equal ranks 

 His gay battalion, as one man they move 

 Step after step, their size the same, their arms 

 Far gleaming, dart the same united blaze : 

 Reviewing generals his merit own. 

 How regular ! how just ! — and all his cares 

 Are well repaid, if mighty George approve. 

 So model thou thy pack, if honour touch 

 Thy gen'rous soul, and the world's just applause. 



There are necessary points in the shape of a 

 hound, which ought always to be attended to by a 

 sportsman ; for, if he be not of a perfect symmetry, 

 he will neither run fast, nor bear much work : he has 

 much to undergo, and should have strength propor- 

 tioned to it. Let his legs be straight as arrows ; his 

 feet round, and not too large ; his shoulders back ; his 

 breast rather wide than narrow ; his chest deep ; his 

 back broad ; his head small ; his neck thin ; his tail 

 thick and brushy : if he carry it well, so much the 

 better. This last point, however trifling it may 

 appear to you, gave rise to a very odd question. A 

 gentleman (not much acquainted with hounds), as we 

 were hunting together the other day, said: "I observe, 

 Sir, that some of your dogs' tails stand up, and some 

 hang down ; pray, which do you reckon the best 

 hounds ? " Such young hounds as are out at the 

 elbows, and such as are weak from the knee to the 

 foot, should never be taken into the pack. 



I find that I have mentioned a small head, as one 

 of the necessary requisites of a hound ; but you will 

 understand it as relative to beauty only; for, as to 

 goodness, I believe large-headed hounds are in no wise 



