152 Hounds 



the pure-bred Otter-hound. The more stagnant the 

 water the more useful the Otter-hound, but where 

 rivers run fast, and are rocky and wide, you cannot 

 do better than work the hounds I have described." 

 According to the foregoing authorities the intro- 

 duction of the Foxhound cross is a benefit, and the 

 product is a rough-coated hound, with Foxhound 

 characteristics well in evidence. The crossing of a 

 broken-coated variety of hound with a smooth- 

 coated one ranks parallel with the common practice 

 adopted by many Fox-terrier breeders, viz., mating 

 a smooth Fox-terrier with a wire-haired one. The 

 picture presented by a pack of pure Otter-hounds 

 and that of an Otter and Foxhound crossed pack is 

 as dissimilar as it is lacking in picturesqueness, but 

 for quaintness and oddities the last named certainly 

 take the palm. A t5^ical Otter-hound will weigh 

 from 80 lbs. to 100 lbs. or more, and measure about 

 26 inches at the shoulder. The skin should be thick 

 and the hair of a grizzle colour. A deep chest, big- 

 boned fore and hind limbs, strong loins and quarters, 

 together with a stout neck and a back of medium 

 length, are desirable qualities in these hounds. The 

 head is rather narrow, the ears carried close to the 

 sides of the head, the nostrils broad, the flews deep, 

 and the eyes sunken, showing " haw." The facial 

 expression and general appearance of these hounds 

 is that of a powerfully-made, keen-looking dog, with 



