60 DOMESTICATED HUXTIXG-DOGS. 



greyhound and old-fashioned hound), and which has been estab- 

 lished by carefully breeding from sires and dams peculiar for this 

 development. It is upon this formation that stoutness, and the 

 capability of bearing work day after day, mainly depend ; and 

 hence all good judges both of the hunter and the hound insist so 

 strongly upon it. Nimrod (Apperley) also remarks that Beckford 

 has omitted to particularise " the length of thigh discernible in 

 first-rate hounds, which, like the well-let-down hock of the horse, 

 gives them much superiority of speed, and is also a great security 

 against laming themselves in leaping fences, which they are more 

 apt to do when they become blown and consequently weak." 

 It may also be remarked, that though Beckford insists upon a 

 middle size, he does not define what he means by the term, but 

 as foxhounds vary from 26 inches to 20, I should say 23 to 25 

 inches for doghounds, and 21 to 23 for bitches, would be about 

 the height meant by him. In open countries, with thin fences or 

 walls, a large hound may perhaps suit best ; but in woodlands, 

 the small size, if not too small and delicate, has many advantages, 

 and will always beat the larger and heavier hound, who tires him- 

 self in driving through the runs, Avhich will readily admit the 

 small door or bitch. Nimrod fixed the heijjht at " 21 to 22 inches 

 for bitches, and 23 to 24 for doghounds ; " but I have given a 

 little more latitude in the above estimate. The s2-)ee(l of the 

 foxhound may be estimated from the well-known match over 

 the Beacon course, at IN^ewmarket, which is 4 miles 1 furlong 

 and 132 yards, and which was run by Mr. Barr} 's " Bluecap " 

 (the winner) in eight minutes and a few seconds, Mr. Meynell's 



