FOXHOUNDS 211 



the word, and though the standard aimed at is un- 

 doubtedly the hound which is good enough to win at 

 Peterborough, the type varies in some degree, espe- 

 cially in the matter of size. In some kennels the dog- 

 hounds range between 23 and 23! inches, while the 

 bitches are at least an inch less, but there are packs in 

 which a much greater height is maintained, where the 

 dog pack will average 24^ inches, and the bitches are all 

 very nearly 23 inches. Then, again, one master goes 

 in for a lengthy and yet upstanding hound ; another 

 insists upon fair height, but is not so particular about 

 length, while a third favours the short-coupled compact 

 hound, who would probably be called "jumped up" by 

 the admirer of the other sorts. At Peterborough the 

 happy medium is fairly well hit off. Small hounds 

 have no chance of winning, and very big ones would 

 not be approved, but still the tendency of the critics 

 rather favours size, and most of the Peterborough win- 

 ners are fairly big, though not of abnormal height or 

 length. Indeed, the 25-inch hound — and there are 

 many of them in the country, some of which are ex- 

 tremely good-looking — is seldom seen on the show 

 bench, and he is, one thinks, rather out of place. Why 

 he is out of place may be explained by saying that he 

 seems to gain no particular advantage from his extra 

 size. He probably goes no faster than the hound 

 which is an inch less, and certainly does not hunt better 

 because of his stature. Neither does he look well 

 unless the whole pack is of his height, and worst of all 

 when used for stud purposes he is apt to get stock that 

 are even bigger than himself, and which are in conse- 

 quence ungainly. But whether a pack be big or small 

 they must be as far as possible of the same size. If a 

 pack is really level it fills the eye at once, whilst when 



