56 FOXHUNTING ON LAKELAND FELLS 



that the over- developed round cat-foot is the 

 best and most desirable. Surely when a hound 

 standing on four feet turns the front ones in, and 

 knuckles over at the knee, at the same time 

 showing general inability in those feet to withstand 

 hard wear, yet suffers from no ill effects in the 

 hind feet, one would imagine that a judge with a 

 modicum of common sense would see the futiUty 

 in continuing to breed hounds with fore feet of the 

 fashionable type. No, fashion prescribes such 

 feet, and though when you wish to sell them 

 fashionable hounds fetch big prices, their upkeep 

 as a pack costs you ten times the amount that it 

 would for a pack possessing sound natural feet of 

 the hare or semi-hare type. 



Whilst there are one or two countries where the 

 cat-footed hound can travel with comparative 

 comfort to himself, there are many more where 

 he very soon becomes lame, and ceases to be a 

 really useful member of the pack. 



The Master who is really fond of hound work, 

 and wishes to show sport, naturally breeds hounds 

 suited to his particular country ; that is, if his 

 financial resources are equal to the strain. Should 

 he by ill luck experience severe losses in his 

 kennel, he will find great difficulty in procuring 

 fresh hounds suited to his needs, for probably all 

 the hounds available are of Peterborough type. 



Again, should he wish to sell his pack, despite 



