THE CHOICE OF HOUNDS 15 



I perfectly agree with you, that, to look well, they should be all nearly of 

 a size ; and I even think that they should all look of the same family. 



Facies non omnibus una, 

 Nee diversa tamen, qualem decet ease soronim. 1 



If handsome withal, they are then perfect. With regard to their being 

 sizeable, what Somerville says is so much in your own way, that I shall 

 send it to you. 



As some brave captain, curious and exact, 



By his fix'd standard forms in equal ranks 



His gay battalion, as one man they move 



Step after step, their size the same, their arms 



Far gleaming, dart the same united blaze : 



Reviewing generals his merit own. 



How regular ! how just ! and all his cares 



Are well repaid, if mighty GEORGE approve. 



So model thou thy pack, if honour touch 



Thy gen'rous soul, and the world's just applause. 



There are necessary points in the shape of a hound, which ought always 

 to be attended to by a sportsman ; for, if he be not of a perfect symmetry, 

 he will neither run fast, nor bear much work : he has much to undergo, 

 and should have strength proportioned to it. Let his legs be straight as 

 arrows ; his feet round, and not too large ; his shoulders back ; his breast 

 rather wide than narrow ; his chest deep ; his back broad ; his head small ; 

 his neck thin ; his tail thick and brushy : if he carry it well, so much the 

 better. This last point, however trifling it may appear to you, gave rise to 

 a very odd question. A gentleman (not much acquainted with hounds), 

 as we were hunting together the other day, said : ' I observe, Sir, that 

 some of your dogs' tails stand up, and some hang down ; pray, which do 

 you reckon the best hounds ? ' Such young hounds as are out at the elbows, 

 and such as are weak from the knee to the foot, should never be taken into 

 the pack. 



I find that I have mentioned a small head, as one of the necessary 

 requisites of a hound ; but you will understand it as relative to beauty 

 only ; for, as to goodness, I believe large-headed hounds are in no wise 

 inferior. Somerville, in his description of a perfect hound, makes no 

 mention of the head, leaving the size of it to Phidias to determine ; he, 

 therefore, must have thought it of little consequence. I send you his words. 



See there, with countenance blythe 

 And with a courtly grin, the fawning hound 

 Salutes thee cow'ring ; his wide-op'ning nose 

 Upwards he curls, and his large sloe-black eyes 



** Not all have the same appearance, yet as is proper in sisters they are not absolutely 

 different. 



