THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



so formed, that lie has a good "spur place," a point highly 

 esteemed in him. Nor is either of these writers sufficiently 

 descriptive of the hinder legs of the hound ; for, although the 

 large haunch and well-trussed thigh of the former denote 

 power and muscle, there is a length of thigh discernible in 

 hounds of tirst-rate form, which, like the well-let-down hock of 

 the horse, gives them superiority of speed, and is also a great 

 security against laming themselves in leaping fences, which 

 they are more apt to do when they become blown, or tired, 

 and, consequently, weak. The fore-legs, "straight as arrows," 

 is an admirable illustration of perfection in those parts, by 

 Beckford; for, as in a bow or bandy-legged'man, nothing is so 

 distio-urincr to a hound as his having his elbows out, and it is 

 also a great check to speed. In some countries, the round 

 cat-like foot is indispensable, and it is agreeable to the eye in 

 all ; but I would not reject a well-shapen puppy in all other 

 respects, for merely somewhat of an open foot, provided his 

 ankles or fetlocks were good, a point I consider of the greatest 

 importance to all quadruped animals. The shoulders of the 

 foxhound should, especially, resemble those of a horse — 

 oblique, but, at the same time, strong ; for a narrow-chested 

 hound is ahnost certain to be shaken by hard work, and, con- 

 sequently, unlikely to endure beyond his third season. 



' As Beckford recommends a small head, it may be pre- 

 sumed the fashion on this point began to be changed in his 

 time, and has been since, I think, carried to rather too great 

 an excess, especially in one or two kennels of high repute, in 

 which small heads are become one of the leading character- 

 istics. For my part, I like some length of head in the fox- 

 hound, not being able to divest myself of the idea of a cross 

 with the old-fashioned pointer when I see him with a short 

 head and a snubbed nose. Beckford also says the neck 

 should be thin. I should say, moderately thin. I dislike a 

 thin neck in any animal but a milch cow and the stag ; at the 

 same time, I dislike a short, thick neck in a hound. His 

 neck should be moderately long and moderately thick, with 

 the muscles clearl}?- developed ; it should rise gracefully out of 

 his shoulders, with a slight curve, or crest, and, to completely 

 satisfy the eye, should be quite free from the exuberances of 

 flesh and rough hair on the lower side of it, called, by kennel 

 n}en, "chitterlings," or " ruffles," the hound having them being 



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