34 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



less should you be induced to retain a hound of inveterate 

 ill habits, on account of his appearance. Draft, I say, 

 freely, let them be handsome as pictures, or lineally 

 descended from old Trojan. Avoid flat sides, short 

 necks, and throaty, jolt-headed hounds. The proverb, 

 " handsome is that handsome does," may be generally 

 applied, not in the sense in which it is used, but literally 

 to foxhounds. On looking over a pack, if you are struck 

 with the beauty of any one distinguishable particu- 

 larly for his intelligent countenance, his swan-like neck, 

 his fine shoulders, his well-connected frame, compact, 

 not short, lengthy rather than otherwise, well-rounded 

 loins, with muscular thighs, and sinewy hocks, with a 

 depth of rib and forehand from his withers to his brisket, 

 and proportionate breadth of chest, standing upon bony 

 legs, quite straight, and firmly planted upon perfect feet 

 and ankles, and you inquire his name and pedigree, you 

 will find, in nine cases out of ten, that he has a character 

 according with the praise you cannot withhold from his 

 form. I say, therefore, ever avoid a throaty bull- 

 necked hound, unless you have sufficient reason to give 

 him credit for qualities atoning for external defects, 

 which, as the exception to general rule, will occasionally 

 be found. Reject a flat, open, splay foot, at once ; he 

 may distinguish himself in grass countries, but will not 

 go with you till Christmas. Get them as nearly level as 

 you can ; you will find that you are not only thus spared 

 the eye-sore of some towering above others, and that 

 unsizable appearance which may be compared to that 



