17 



that winning a prize in the show ring is no test o^ 

 ability to hunt, and the ribbon is awarded solely for 

 conformation. What constitutes the proper confor- 

 mation of a hound, which much possess speed, 

 stamina and constitution to enable him to do his 

 work with the least exertion to himself, is not easy 

 to define. There are many excellent judges with a 

 natural eye for a hound, but there are others equally 

 painstaking, who have not the gift. The novice, 

 however, who has spent half-a-dozen mornings in the 

 kennel has no difficulty in deciding whether a hound 

 is straight or otherwise : the result being that this 

 one point has been seized upon as essential above 

 aU others. 



I do not wish to minimise the importance of a 

 straight leg, and there is no doubt the continual use 

 of sires without that quahfication would eventually 

 produce a race of animals as crooked as bassetts. The 

 straight leg undoubtedly adds to the beauty of outline, 

 but it has less influence on a hound's powers of en- 

 durance and speed than either shoulders, ribs, or 

 thighs. Also a hound that can stand straight on the 

 flags may not be able to walk straight, when he will 

 show a tendency either to be tied in or out at elbows 

 both faults difficult to detect in a limited space. 

 Whilst on the subject of straight legs — ^the fore only 

 — it will be as well to discuss their merits in enabling 

 a hound to stand hard work. When going full speed, 

 ventre a terre, it has been suggested that the straight 

 leg throws the whole shock on the shoulders, and it 

 should be remembered that the greater the pace a 

 hound is going the harder he will hit the ground. 

 The Imee that does not carry straight down to the 

 toe and bends shghtly backwards, we have always 



