FOX HUNTING. 33 



good-natured rivalry in the field. The American 

 hound was the only hound used, the pride being 

 to have him show full American breeding points. 

 The size was not so much a question, although 

 large, loosel3'-made hounds were not popular. 

 What was wanted was deep-chested, strongly 

 put together hounds for lasting in running, with 

 good sounding voices, pointer-shaped noses of 

 good length, long ears that would meet at the 

 tips across the end of the nose when stretched 

 forward, and high-pointed head bone at top of 

 head. It was not an unusual thing to see an old 

 fox hunter stretching the ears of a favorite 

 hound with his fingers, to show with pride how 

 they would meet across the end of the nose. 

 The hounds used were as good as any hunter 

 could desire, and for an all-day hard run could 

 not be excelled. The puppies were bred and 

 raised at the hunter's own home. 



The rule of the club was that any member 

 taking the hounds out for a run must see that they 

 be returned safe to the kennel, and the members 

 never failed to obey the rule, even if the run lasted 

 until after sundown, as it sometimes did. 



The hounds, during this first organization of 

 the club, were only kenneled during the hunting 

 season, from November to March, each owner at 

 other times keeping his hounds at his own home. 



