THE HOUND. 



'* His rush-grown tail o'er his broad back bends in an 



ample arch : on shoulders clean, upright, and firm, he stands : his 

 round cat foot, straight hams, and wide-spread thighs, and his low- 

 dropping chest, confess his speed." — (Somerville. ) 



The: character, sensibilities, and intellectual 

 faculties of the foxhound are but little known ; 

 they are, unfortunately, considered rather stupid 

 and uninteresting than otherwise by the majority 

 of the people in this country, especially those un- 

 acquainted with the mysteries of hound lore. In 

 England, for hundreds of years, they have been 

 held in the highest estimation for their splendid 

 intelligence, their inexhausti]>le courage, and un- 

 equaled endurance; qualities that are indispensa- 

 ble in adding to the pleasure of her sportsmen, 

 and there is no gainsaying the fact that the popu- 

 larity of the hound has rapidly increased in this 

 country during tlie past quarter of a century. 



The origin of the breed has been the subject of 

 debate and deep research among sportsmen from 

 time immemorial. However, it is generally con- 

 ceded to be a judicious crossing between the 

 bloodhound and the ancient greyhound. This is 

 undoubtedly true, as a first cross of the same 

 119 



