THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



the same time ; at least, he is soon blown if he attempts it. 

 Merely wild young hounds often turn out well, with proper 

 discipline and work ; but incurable hare-hunters, dwellers in 

 the scent, especially in covers after the body are away, — those 

 of delicate constitutions, together with the failings before 

 enumerated, ought never to be seen in your kennel ; and, as 

 these are the sort of hounds that chiefly come under the 

 denomination of drafts, it shows the difficulty and labour, to 

 say nothing of the expense, of forming a pack on such a 

 parent stock ; and, on the other hand, the value of a really 

 good pack, free from such a host of culprits. Still I do not 

 mean to condemn the purchasing of drafted hounds, as I know 

 several packs that have been greatly benefited by a large draft 

 from a well-established kennel — some of which might have 

 been put away for very trifling faults ; others for the purpose 

 of reducing the establishment ; and, now and then, for the 

 sake of a good price offered by some wealthier person than the 

 breeder. Let me advise you, if you can accomplish it, to 

 secure the entire lot of young hounds, not put forward in some 

 well-established kennel. They are often rejected for a slight 

 reason, and often for no other than that the entry is large 

 enough without them. 



' As respects shape and make, I need not say much on 

 those points to you who have been in the habit of seeing so 

 many good packs, nevertheless you shall have my opinion, as 

 promised. I have always been partial to rather large hounds, 

 provided they are free from lumber and well put together, 

 although I agree with the dogma of the great sportsmen of 

 the day, that " the height of a hound has nothing to do with 

 his size," — I should rather say his ])ower. I have found large 

 hounds suit all countries, which small ones do not, and they 

 are generally more docile than small ones. But I must have 

 strength and muscle combined, in proportion to size, with 

 oblique shoulders, but no flat sides : good loins, weli-let-down 

 thighs, widely-spread gaskins, well-put-on heads, straight legs, 

 and, of course, good feet. I have no objection to a little rise 

 in the loins, approaching to what is called the wheel-back, for 

 hilly countries, and ploughed ones, that c-AYvy ; nor do I think 

 much the worse of a hound if he shows a LITTLE inclination 

 to be what is called throaty. I'll warrant he has a nose, but 

 if he cannot go the pace the nose is of no avail. I Avill, how- 



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