THE BLOODHOUND. 



151 



hounds of other breeds. The skin is thin to the 

 touch and extremely loose, this being more espe- 

 cially noticeable about the head and neck, where 

 it hangs in deep folds. 



2. Height. — The mean average height of adult 

 dogs is 26 inches and of adult bitches 24 inches. 

 Dogs usually vary from 25 inches to 27 inches 

 and bitches from 23 inches to 25 inches ; but in 

 either case the greater height is to be preferred, 

 provided that character and quality are also 

 combined. 



3. Weight. — The mean average weight of adult 

 dogs in fair condition is 90 pounds and of adult 

 bitches 80 pounds. Dogs attain the weight of 

 no pounds, bitches 100 pounds. The greater 

 weights are to be preferred, provided (as in the 

 case of height) that quality and proportion are 

 also combined. 



4. Expression. — The expression is noble and 

 dignified and characterised by solemnity, wisdom 

 and power. 



5. Temperament. — In temperament he is ex- 

 tremely affectionate, quarrelsome neither with 

 companions nor with other dogs. His nature is 

 somewhat shy, and equally sensitive to kindness 

 or correction by his master. 



6. Head. — The head is narrow in proportion to 

 its length and long in proportion to the body, 

 tapering but slightly from the temples to the end 

 of the muzzle thus (when viewed from above and 

 in front) having the appearance of being flattened 

 at the sides and of being nearly equal in width 

 throughout its entire length. In profile the 

 upper outline of the skull is nearly in the same 

 plane as that of the foreface. The length from 

 end of nose to stop (midway between the eyes) 

 should be not less than that from stop to back 

 of occipital protuberance (peak). The entire 

 length of head from the posterior part of the 

 occipital protuberance to the end of the muzzle 

 should be 12 inches, or more, in dogs, and n 

 inches, or more, in bitches. 



7. Skull. — The skull is long and narrow, with 

 the occipital peak very pronounced. The brows 

 are not prominent, although, owing to the deep-set 

 eyes, they may have that appearance. 



8. Foreface. — The foreface is long, deep, and of 

 even width throughout, with square outline when 

 seen in profile. 



9. Eyes . — The eyes are deeply sunk in the orbits, 

 the lids assuming a lozenge or diamond shape, in 

 consequence of the lower lids being dragged down 

 and everted by the heavy flews. The eyes cor- 

 respond with the general tone of colour of the 

 animal, varying from deep hazel to yellow. The 

 hazel colour is, however, to be preferred, although 

 very seldom seen in red-and-tan hounds. 



10. Ears. — The ears are thin and soft to the 

 touch, extremely long, set very low. and fall in 

 graceful folds, the lower parts curling inwards 

 and backwards. 



1 1 . Wrinkle. — The head is furnished with an 

 amount of loose skin which in nearly every 

 position appears superabundant, but more par- 

 ticularly so when the head is carried low ; the 

 skin then falls into loose, pendulous ridges and 

 folds, especially over the forehead and sides of 

 the face. 



12. Nostrils. — The nostrils are large and open. 



13. Lips, Flews, and Dewlap. — In front 

 the lips fall squarely, making a right-angle with 

 the upper line of the foreface, whilst behind they 

 form deep, hanging flews, and, being continued 

 into the pendent folds of loose skin about the 

 neck, constitute the dewlap, which is very pro- 

 nounced. These characters are found, though 

 in a less degree, in the bitch. 



THE SLEEPING BLOODHOUND. 

 FROM the Painting by SIR E. LANDSEER, 



14. Neck, Shoulders, and Chest.— The neck 

 is long, the shoulders muscular and well sloped 

 backwards ; the ribs arc well sprung, and the 

 chest well let down between the forelegs, forming 

 a deep keel. 



15. Legs and Feet.— The forelegs are straight 

 and large in bone, with elbows squarely set ; 

 the feet strong and well knuckled up ; the thighs 

 and second thighs (gaskins) are very muscular ; 

 the hocks well bent and let down and squarely 

 set. 



16. Back and Loins.— The back and loins are 

 strong, the latter deep and slightly arched. 



17. Stern. — The stern is long and tapering and 

 set on rather high, with a moderate amount of 

 hair underneath. 



18. Gait.— The gait is elastic, swinging, and 

 free— the stern being carried high, but not too 

 much curled over the back. 



19. Colour.— The colours are black-and-tan, 

 red-and-tan, and tawny — the darker colours 

 being sometimes interspersed with lighter or 

 badger-coloured hair and sometimes flecked with 

 white. A small amount of white is permissible on 

 chest, feet, and tip of stern. 



