26 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



inferior. Somerville, in his description of a perfect 

 hound, makes no mention of the head, leaving the 

 size of it to Phidias to determine ; he, therefore, must 

 have thought it of little consequence. I send you his 

 words. 



See there, with countenance blythe 

 And with a courtly grin, the fawning hound 

 Salutes thee cow'ring ; his wide-op'ning nose 

 Upwards 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 g r ay enamel'd pride, 

 Rival the speckled pard : his rush-gown 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 ; in every part 

 So well proportion'd, that the nicer skill 

 Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. 

 Of such compose thy pack. 



The colour I think of little moment ; and am of 

 opinion with our friend Foote, respecting his negro 

 friend, that a good dog, like a good candidate, cannot 

 be of a bad colour. 



Men are too apt to be prejudiced by the sort of 

 hound which they themselves have been most accus- 

 tomed to. Those who have been used to the sharp- 

 nosed fox-hound, will hardly allow a large-headed 

 hound to be a fox-hound ; yet they both equally are : 

 speed and beauty are the chief excellences of the one; 

 while stoutness, and tenderness of nose, in hunting, 1 



1 II parait que la finesse de l'odorat, dans les chiens, depend de la 

 grosseur plus que de la longueur du museau. — Buffon. 



