128 Horse and Hound, 



The question whether bitches are better than 

 dogs in the field is a mooted one. I am rather in- 

 dined to think they are, though I know of many 

 experienced hunters who hold to the other theory. 

 In England the lady packs (bitches) are hunted 

 separately, and they are considered both faster 

 and quicker, but I am inclined to think this is be- 

 cause they are smaller, and were the dogs the 

 same size and build, I do not think the difference 

 would be as apparent, though slightly in favor 

 of the bitches. In this country, where less atten- 

 tion is paid to appearance, size, and sortiness of 

 a pack, dogs and bitches are hunted together, and 

 as dogs are undoubtedly freer with their tongues, 

 while bitches have more dash and vim, though are 

 less steady, they undoubtedly make a strong com- 

 bination in working together. 



It is a widely discussed question, and much 

 has been written upon the relative merits of the 

 American and English hounds. In touching upon 

 this subject I shall attempt to give a fair and im- 

 partial statement of the same as seen from my 

 viewpoint. I have also advised with others whom 

 I consider authorities upon the subject, being 

 hunters of wide experience, who, like myself, 

 have imported, bred, raised, and hunted English 

 hounds of the very best strains to be had. 



In the matter of breeding true to a type, we 

 must yield the palm to the English; in the art 

 and science of breeding they are not only the 



