FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



forehead, or in other words where the point of the 

 occipital bone is nearly in a straight line with the 

 tip of the nose. 



The hound's nasal cavity is more or less ellip- 

 tical in shape, and varies in size according to the 

 t3rpe of animal. The nasal cavities lead into the 

 throat, and are lined with sensitive mucous 

 membrane, through the upper portion of which 

 spread the olfactory nerves. As the cavities 

 lead into the throat near the vocal chords, and 

 also in close proximity to the Eustachian tube 

 which goes from the throat to the middle ear 

 cavity, any irritation or inflammation to one of 

 these parts must necessarily affect the others. 

 For instance, in human beings a sore throat often 

 produces temporary deafness. 



A shortened head means that the nostrils are 

 near the nasal cavity, and therefore the olfactory 

 nerves are more exposed, and thus liable to damag( 

 by the entrance of irritating matter. On the 

 other hand, a narrow nose without contraction of 

 head, means freedom from nasal disease, and 

 acute scenting power. In a hound with an over- 

 dished or pug-like nose, the free passage of air is 

 retarded, and there is consequent loss of scenting 

 power, as well as liability to nasal complaints. 

 The flews or lips are longest in the blood-hound 

 and blood-hound crosses, whereas the northern 

 hounds, descendants of the old Talbot tans, are 

 shallow flewed. 



The hound's ears, like those of a human being, 

 are extremely sensitive, and any irritating 

 matter finding its way into them is liable to set 

 up inflammation, the result being partial or total 

 deafness. The lobe of the ear differs in thick- 

 ness in individual hounds, but it is safe to say 

 that the happy medium should be aimed at, as 



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