88 HARE-HUNTING AND HARRIERS 



mentioned a small head, as one of the necessary- 

 requisites of a hound, but you will understand it as 

 relative to beauty only ; for, as to goodness, I believe 

 large-headed hounds are in no wise inferior. The 

 colour I think of little moment ; and am of opinion 

 with our friend, Foote, respecting his negro friend, 

 that a good hound, like a good candidate, cannot be 

 of a bad colour." Beckford's observations on the 

 points of a hound still leave little to be desired, and 

 will probably remain a standard authority. 



It is most desirable to have your pack closely 

 approximating one another in size, if not always 

 in colour. Nothing is more unsightly or more un- 

 suitable than a pack of all sorts of sizes. You want 

 a pack that will, in truth, pack well together, and not 

 follow one another in a long unsightly string. For 

 this reason it is desirable, as far as can be managed 

 conveniently, to breed or select hounds not only of 

 a similar size, but approximating pretty closely in 

 speed. It is fatal to a pack to have one or more 

 hounds much faster than the rest. It strings out the 

 rest, and those that cannot go the pace of the leader 

 become annoyed, breathless, and jealous, and get 

 their heads up. Quite recently I saw a pack of first- 

 rate harriers, to which a new hound had been lately 

 added. This hound was far too fast for the rest, 

 and as soon as a hare was found, went right away, 

 leaving behind it the unsightly spectacle of the pack 

 strung out into an attenuated line. While this and 

 another hound remained, the hunting of that pack 

 was almost completely spoilt. 



I have shown that practically three types of harrier — 

 or rather hare-hunting hound — are now to be met 

 with : the true harrier, the Stud-book harrier, and 

 the dwarf foxhound, all having their admirers and 



