THE PACK. 249 



It would seem probable that these two breeds must 

 have been largely introduced into England, and that 

 from their cross with existing hounds must have 

 been derived the animal so frequently referred to as 

 the great Southern hound. I have been quite unable 

 to find any contemporary description of the Southern 

 hound which throws any real light on his pecu- 

 liarities. Yet he is generally supposed to have 

 been the stock from which the English staghounds 

 were bred, and also to have shared with the Northern 

 hound the honour of helping to found the modern 

 race of foxhounds. 



The Southern hound is said to have been bred 

 to hunt on foot with, and to have been very slow. 

 We know that hunting at force was not in favour 

 with Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, who preferred 

 hunting in inclosed parks, and probably very slow, 

 tunable hounds came into fashion. 



Shakespeare's works are full of references to 

 hunting, but the only one which at all bears on 

 the point is the oft-quoted passage from Act IV. of 

 A Midsuniiner Niglifs Dream : — 



Theseus {log.) : 

 \ My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 

 So flawed, so sanded, and their heads are hung 

 With ears that sweep away the morning dew ; 

 Crook-kneed, and dew-lapped like Thessalian bulls; 

 Slow in pursuit, but match'd in mouth like bells. 

 Each under each. 



This does not help us much, as the description 

 might apply to anything, from a dachsund upwards, 



