190 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



has not been found to act prejudicially to that kind 

 of animal ; and some go a point beyond, by saying 

 they are improved by it, in diminution of bone 

 and consequent increase of meat. This may be the 

 case, and, if so, is one reason more why such a 

 result is not desirable in breeding foxhounds, bone 

 being considered an indispensable by masters and 

 huntsmen, as well as plenty of muscle. The two 

 animals, in fact, are bred for wholly different pur- 

 poses, the one for an inactive short life, to put on 

 flesh and fat as expeditiously as possible, the other 

 to undergo work so long as he can work, and that 

 of the most severe kind. Beyond the decrease of 

 bone, which we have found to follow breeding too 

 closely in hounds and sporting dogs, their courage 

 is also diminished, which a foxhound should possess 

 in a high degree, or he is unfitted for his business. 

 He should never creep through a fence he can jump 

 over, and never give in or shut up, as huntsmen 

 say, at the end of the longest run. His courage 

 is also proved by resolutely facing blackthorn or 

 gorse coverts, a disinclination to draw which, shows 

 the white feather, or rather, a too soft skin. When 

 we say that a foxhound ought not to tire after a 

 severe day, we are supposing him to be in first- 

 rate condition, with muscular power and bone equal 

 to any labours, without which the spirit of a lion 

 would be unavailing ; but if thus fitted for the 

 chase, and he shows symptoms of weakness, there 

 must be somethino: amiss in his constitution or 

 pedigree. It is true that some hounds do a deal 

 more towards killing your fox than others, working 



