246 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



tween two or more hounds of apparently equal 

 power, due consideration must be given to the 

 condition of each. Those full of flesh will, of 

 course, measure more than those of less bulky pro- 

 portions. Judges of hounds, horses, and cattle, 

 have very often a difiicult task to perform, and 

 generally a very unpleasant one, since it is impos- 

 sible to please all parties. Some must win, others 

 lose, yet everybody expects to win, like the drawers 

 of lottery tickets. Sometimes we have been puz- 

 zled to which the palm of merit ought to be 

 awarded, although looking over in the course of 

 a season hundreds of couples. One hound may 

 possess all the essential points in great perfection, 

 and yet not have sufficient length of body to quite 

 please our fancy. Another may make up for the 

 deficiency by length and strength of loins, and 

 prove not so powerful behind the shoulders, and 

 with less bone. As to horses and hounds, we all 

 know they must have length to go the pace, and 

 those with short bodies generally have that length 

 of leg which is not conducive to speed. There is 

 a greater objectiou, however, to short-bodied ani- 

 mals of the female kind, and their incapacity on that 

 account of producing fine progeny. In judging 

 hounds from various kennels, cceteris ^9ari6t(/5, 

 pedigree should be thrown into the scale, and turn 

 it in favour of high descent ; and at foxhound 

 shows, when stud-hounds are exhibited, they should 

 be accompanied with a leaf from the genealogical 

 tree to prove their parentage. Blood will tell in 



