58 DETERIORATED CONDITION OF 



their physical powers do not vary so long as 

 they have to obtain their food in the usual 

 manner. In a district factitiously full of game 

 foxes have less endurance than in one where 

 they are obliged to travel daily some distance 

 after food; and in most of our hunting districts 

 foxes are compelled to make this exertion, and 

 by it they maintain their speed and great 

 natural endurance. As these strong foxes are 

 what our hounds have usually to hunt, these 

 cannot afford to lose any portion of their speed 

 or endurance. When those qualities begin 

 to deteriorate in a pack of hounds, the master 

 of it can only meet this by having recourse to 

 fresh blood, to that of a pack of hounds which 

 has been better managed than his own, as he 

 cannot render the killing of foxes less difficult 

 when the powers of his hounds are become 

 diminished. 



The work of a fox-hound is severe, requir- 

 ing speed, endurance, a particular form of 

 foot, and sloping shoulders, and in the absence 

 of this form they soon become lame. 



Thus our fox-hounds are not bred in refer- 

 ence to one quality, but to four ; namely, 

 form, speed, endurance, and fine sense of 



