TO MASTERS OF HOUNDS 



hounds more tender-nosed than others, and 

 if these are found out they should, of 

 course, be bred from. But I am not quite 

 sure that dash, intelligence, and persever- 

 ance do not ensure what is called a good 

 nose. A hound may have ever such a sensi- 

 tive organ of smell, but he is no use if he 

 is shy, idle, or slack. Any hound will run 

 hard on a real good-scenting day, but give 

 me one who will try for you on a bad- 

 scenting day; who will jump a gate when 

 casting himself, and will jump it back again 

 if he does not hit the line off; in short, 

 one who is miserable if he is off the line, 

 and does not go and contentedly lie down 

 and lap in a pond. I have often been quite 



sorry for good hounds who have worked so 

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