THE FELL HOUNDS 53 



particularly if the shoulders are also good. Con- 

 cussion acts through the nervous system on the 

 brain, and, therefore, the working life of a hound 

 is quickly shortened, should he be improperly con- 

 structed as regards his feet. In most kennels, the 

 dew-claws are removed from the puppies when the 

 latter are quite young. The fell hounds, however, 

 retain this claw, and it is properly developed. 

 Far from being a useless appendage, as many 

 people imagine, the dew-claw is of assistance to a 

 hound in surmounting sUppery rocks, where he has 

 to pull himself up. It also acts as a preventative 

 to slipping on the ledges of the crags. Was there 

 no use for this claw it would not develop as it 

 does on a fell hound, and on examination it will 

 be found to be worn on the underside of the nail, 

 proof positive that it does its share of work. 



I have already mentioned the fact that there 

 are portions of the fell country where hounds can 

 get up a tremendous pace, and so severely press 

 their fox at some period of a run. If the forearm 

 of a hound is properly put together, not only will 

 the several parts help to minimise jar and con- 

 cussion, but they will give the hound an increased 

 capacity for speed. If the humerus or bone of the 

 upper arm is nearly in a straight line with the 

 ulna and radius, the pace of the hound wiU be 

 much greater than if the humerus inclines at a 

 sharper angle. 



