84 HUNTING. 



and these two points are of equal importance in any country. 

 Steadiness can only be ascertained by experience ; for until you 

 see a hound at work, you cannot say whether he is steady or 

 riotous, but with regard to endurance there are a few points which 

 may be incidentally noted. Weedy hounds are always very 

 objectionable for two reasons. They are likely to be too fast 

 in the first burst, and will almost invariably tire. The hounds 

 then must be stoutly built, and for the rest their points should 



' A merry cry of the little fellows at work. ' 



resemble as nearly as possible those of a foxhound. It must, 

 however, be observed that nothing but careful breeding will 

 produce a really level and uniform pack. You may, with judg- 

 ment and some luck, get together a lot that will show sport even 

 in your first season ; but they will not possess that level uni- 

 formity which breeding will alone accomplish. 



Experience has shown that no pack under fourteen inches 

 will show real sport and account for their hares in any country, 

 while in very strongly fenced lands, over heather, and in a fen 



