THE FOXHOUND'S FEET 



showed capital sport. Hounds ran up for many- 

 seasons, and were seldom sick or sorry. Even- 

 tually kennels were built, and the breeding of the 

 pack was improved, until certain members of it 

 made names for themselves at Peterborough. 

 The result of this ' * improvement '* in breeding 

 necessitated big entries, for four seasons proved 

 to be the limit of the average hound's working 

 capabilities. Can anyone say that these hounds 

 were genuinely improved, simply because they 

 won honours at a show, yet deteriorated in 

 stamina and economic usefulness ? This is not the 

 only pack which has undergone a like metamor- 

 phosis, with similar results. There must be some- 

 thing radically wrong with hounds that cannot 

 run up for more than four seasons ; yet we see such 

 hounds exhibited at Peterborough, presumably 

 representing the standard type to which breeders 

 should endeavour to attain. On glancing over 

 the hound lists to-day, we find that anywhere 

 from forty to sixty five couples of hounds are 

 deemed necessary for four days a week, and from 

 thirty to forty couples for three days. These 

 hounds are bred on the lines of those exhibited at 

 Peterborough, yet we can point to half a dozen or 

 more packs, of from ten to sixteen couples, which 

 do their three days a week regularly, show capital 

 sport, and are seldom sick or sorry. 



Fox-hunting to-day is hard hit in the matter of 

 expense, not the least item of which is the upkeep 

 of hounds. From an economic point of view 

 therefore, is it not better to get away from the 

 heavy t37pe of show hound, and breed something 

 which will last longer, and be more suited to its 

 particular country ; even though it may chance to 

 offend the eyes of those who appraise show points 

 more than stamina and working qualities? 



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