62 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



These hounds, the Southern and the Talbot, whatever 

 their colour, were big, well-boned hounds, with long 

 falling ears, drooping eyes, deep, thick, hanging flews 

 (lips), an absolute dewlap, and a most wonderful voice, 

 deep, mellow, and, as some writer has said, possessing 

 " the true cathedral note." They were — the Southern 

 hound especially — heavy and slow, but with the most 

 wonderful scenting powers ; the chase they followed 

 gave them such absolute enjoyment that they would, 

 as I have already shown, actually stop upon the 

 trail and, lifting up their big, heavy heads, give 

 vent to their ecstasy in notes which could be heard 

 for some miles over the countryside. This type of 

 hound is almost perfectly illustrated by Shakespeare 

 in " The Midsummer Night's Dream." He makes 

 Theseus say : 



" My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 

 So flu'd, so sanded ; and their Heads are hung 

 With Ears that sweep away the Morning Dew. 

 Crook-knee'd and dew-lap'd like Thessalian Bulls ; 

 Slow in Pursuit, but matched in Mouths like Bells 

 Each under each ; a Cry more tunable 

 Was never hallow' d to, nor chear'd with Horn." 



The Southern hound stood probably about 26 in. 

 in height, and it is a fact that, until a hundred and 

 fifty years ago, or even less, there were still country 

 squires hunting hare with hounds of this size. These 

 big, lumbering, low-scented hounds had various 

 defects, which may still be traced in old-fashioned 

 harrier-blood, and to which fox-hunters, with some 

 reason, have always testified strong dislike. They 

 were throaty, sometimes bowed in the fore-legs, 

 slack-loined, occasionally splay-footed, and with poor 

 thighs, lacking in muscle. Against these 

 their wonderful patience and scenting powers have 



