6 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



His friends were not slow in comprehending the 

 sarcasm intended by this rejoinder, for Mr. Ward's 

 pack had a wide-spread reputation for excellent 

 noses ; and we remember a large square-headed 

 hound named Soloman, presented by him to Assheton 

 Smith, when first commencing the formation of his 

 country in Wiltshire, without whose assistance he 

 himself told me he could not liave killed a fox. 

 For choice, we would select a square head in pre- 

 ference to an oblong one, because we have, through 

 an extensive experience, seen the greatest amount 

 of sagacity in the canine species exhibited by such 

 knowledge-boxes. Then as to shoulders, doctors 

 differ, some preferring the hare and others the 

 horse-shaped. A large-shouldered horse has never 

 met with our approbation — we don't mean a heavy 

 shoulder, for we think the power of the horse, the 

 hound, and the hare all lie heJiind the shoulder — 

 the advancing power before, the propelling power 

 behind, in back, loins, and hind-quarters ; and as 

 facts prove more than flmcies, we mention an 

 example in a hunter ridden by us for many 

 years. 



This horse had a small low shoulder, thin ewe 

 neck, very crooked fore-legs, turning out his toes 

 like a dancing-master, so much so, that we were 

 obliged to ride him in laced boots ; but behind the 

 saddle lay all his strength ; large ribs, immense 

 loins, and very muscular hind-quarters, with straight 

 hocks — in fact, he seemed to go entirely upon this 

 part of his body, his fore-quarters acting merely in 

 a pioneering capacity. For ten years we rode him 



