NOSE AND TONGUE 



a thick lobe is susceptible to disease such as 

 canker, while a very thin lobe is often a sign of close 

 in-breeding. In most kennels hounds' ears are 

 rounded, and while this may save the outer edges 

 from being torn to some extent in thick covert, 

 the operation deprives the ear of much of its 

 natural covering, and thus exposes the inner 

 portion to the ingress of irritating matter. It is 

 generally understood that throatiness in a hound 

 denotes plenty of music as well as a sensitive nose. 

 A hound breathes to a considerable extent through 

 his mouth, but unless the nasal cavity allows the 

 free passage of air, the hound cannot breathe 

 through his mouth alone and throw his tongue at 

 the same time. If air does not properly reach 

 the nasal cavity, the hound soon becomes ex- 

 hausted, and in order to save himself, he either 

 runs slower or ceases to give tongue. If music 

 and pace are desired therefore, the hound to select 

 is the one whose nasal organs are properly de- 

 veloped. Now and then we find instances where 

 the tone of a hound's voice changes. This is 

 generally the result of some ear affection. Tone 

 varies with the amount of air passing through the 

 vocal chords. Deep-toned hounds like otter 

 hounds have plenty of heart and lung room, with 

 a full throat. Light built hounds of the racing 

 type have less well-developed throats, and their 

 tone is high. The deep-toned hounds are heavier 

 and slower. Tone and other characteristics, such 

 as the high occipital, help to indicate the origin 

 of individual lines of blood. 



The eyes of a hound, like those of a human being, 

 indicate by their colour and expression both 

 character and stamina. The blood-hound's eyes 

 are dark coloured, and deep-set, with heavily 

 developed haw, while the eyes of many of the 



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