HARE-HUNTING 241 



if their owners have good noses to recommend 

 them. The first essential in a harrier is nose, and 

 you can forgive him being ugly if only he is 

 good in his work. It is a safe rule never to buy 

 a good-looking entered hound, for you may be 

 certain he would not be sold if he was also 

 reliable in his work. 



The annual show at Peterborough has done 

 much to improve the harrier's appearance, and it 

 has brought the masters of different packs in 

 touch with one another, so that they are able 

 to benefit by an interchange of blood. The old 

 hand is not likely to make the mistake of 

 sacrificing working qualities for looks, but there 

 is always a danger of beginners, in a laudable 

 endeavour to secure the coveted honours on the 

 flags, forgetting the real purpose for which they 

 breed hounds. The foxhound show is always 

 held on the previous day, and is attended by the 

 majority of harrier men, who look on with envy 

 at the perfection of form that makes them dis- 

 satisfied with their own packs and desirous of 

 emulating it ; but they should remember that 

 though working qualities have always held first 

 place, the outward appearance of the foxhound 



