THE AMERICAN FOXHOUND 59 



kennels, but numerous out-crosses have greatly diluted it, and 

 ere long its percentage will be inappreciable. 



THE AVENT STRAIN. 

 By A. C. Heffenger, M. D. 



This strain of American foxhounds owned and bred originally 

 by Mr. J. M. Avent, Hickory Valley, Tenn., came into national 

 prominence in the latter eighties, and their memorable contest 

 with the Wild Goose hounds in the field trials of the Inter-State 

 Fox-hunters' Club, Waverly, Miss., Dec. 2, 1889, stamped them 

 as among the best in the country. In these trials the puppy 

 stake went to Wild Goose Pack's Mounter, with Avent Pack's 

 Flora a close second. In the all -age stake first in speed went to 

 Avent Pack's Rock, with Wild Goose Pack's Callie Gates a close 

 second. In hunting and trailing the Avent hounds were not 

 placed. In the pack stake Wild Goose took first, with Avent's 

 second, and Willis' third. Tliis fine showing made fox-liunters 

 all over the country seek the Avent blood, and some of it came 

 to New England through Mr, R. D. Perry of Massachusetts, and 

 will be mentioned later. 



The origin of these hounds is not as clear as in the case of 

 some of the American strains, but like most of them traces back 

 fundamentally to the old Virginia black and tan. They were 

 known in Tennessee as the Ferguson hound and were crossed 

 with the Bacheler. They were then inbred to a great degree, 

 and to this may possibly be attributed the gradual loss of type 

 and public favor. It is said that few of the original blood are 

 left, and a gentleman who hunts with them each year has 

 recently told me that the type of the present pack was much like 

 that of some of mine of pure Kentucky breeding. In 1890 I saw, 

 hunted with, and carefully examined three young Avent hounds 

 owned by Mr. R. D. Perry, and said to be of the original, correct 

 type of the strain. They were trim, lightly built, springy black 

 and tans, a dog and two bitches. The latter failed to make good, 

 and Mr. Perry discarded them. The dog, however, named 

 Clinker, proved a wonderful youngster and deserves a special 

 description. He was about twenty-three inches at shoulder, 

 racily and strongly built, clean head and neck, nice shoulder, 

 good chest, strong in loin and quarters, legs and feet of the best 



