THE FELL HOUNDS 51 



good his shoulders may be. His round, over- 

 developed, and practically malformed feet, are 

 of little help to him either for crossing rough 

 ground, or for gripping the latter when climbing 

 crags and steep slopes. He is usually, too, lacking 

 in tongue, and is not fond of working out a cold 

 drag. 



In addition, his height is against him when it 

 comes to quick turning and running on steep 

 ground. 



A fell hound should stand under, rather than 

 over, 22J inches. 



I know many people consider a big hound more 

 suited to jumping high stone walls than a Httle one, 

 but in practice it has been proved that the small 

 hound crosses them with greater ease. To jump 

 properly a hound should be short-coupled, compact 

 in build, and have his ribs carried well back. You 

 find this to more perfection in a small hound than 

 a big one. The short-coupled hound can get his 

 hind legs much further under his body, and, in 

 consequence, clears an obstacle with far less strain. 

 Jumping ofi a wall, too, the light-built hound 

 experiences less jar on landing. At the end of a 

 long day, the hght-built hounds of a pack will show 

 less signs of fatigue than those of greater weight, 

 and will return to kennels with their sterns gaily 

 carried. Weight increases leg weariness, and 

 shortens the length of a hound's utility in the field. 



