70 Hounds 



succeeding parts of the limbs, both fore and aft. 

 A Foxhound must display big muscles and big bones, 

 along with broad j oints. The thighs and the quarters 

 should show powerfully-developed muscles, well- 

 turned stifles and clean, broad hock joints. The 

 " cow hock," the " curby " or " sickle " hock, or 

 hocks in which the os calces (points of the hocks) 

 point outwards are, as in all other dogs, defects of 

 conformation of the most unpardonable kind. Never- 

 theless, these are faults that are easily perpetuated, 

 but should be rigidly excluded by Masters of Hounds 

 in breeding operations. It is impossible for the fore- 

 arms and pasterns, likewise the first and second 

 thighs, as well as the pasterns of the hind limbs, to be 

 too massive in bone — bone, muscle and tendon con- 

 stituting the principal aim of the Foxhound breeder. 

 Straight fore limbs, well placed in relation to the 

 body, ending below in close, well-arched toes, are 

 complemental in the quality of a hound. 



Regarding the colour of a Foxhound, the commonest 

 are tricoloured and pied, but the Belvoir tan is 

 greatly admired, though colour is of very httle im- 

 portance, and quite subsidiary to quahty in other 

 respects. The ideal hound is one that not only 

 excels in all-round conformation, but one that dis- 

 plays the highest degree of speed, pluck and en- 

 durance under the most trying circumstances. 



