86 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



prove good brood bitches ; and without such, no pack of hounds 

 can be kept up to a proper standard. 



The symmetry of a fox-hound, to be perfect, should be nearly 

 as possible as follows : — Head rather wide than narrow, neck 

 long and clean, shoulders lying well back, muscles behind the 

 shoulder blades full, ribs wide rather than deep, back long with 

 good loins, fore legs short and straight, and standing clear of 

 the body at the elbows, feet round, plenty of muscle in the 

 thighs, hams long, hocks short to the foot. Many fancy narrow 

 heads, and a deep rather than wide chest. That is the grey- 

 hound shape. Such hounds may run a quick burst to perfec- 

 tion, but for hard- work and lasting qualities, give me the wide 

 ribs, with plenty of room for the play of the lungs. 



One hears a great deal in the present day about snake heads 

 and swan-like necks, and very pretty they are to look at. Much 

 contempt, also, is thrown upon what is facetiously called John 

 Ward's neckcloth. Yet, notwithstanding, there is a good deal 

 of neckcloth still to be seen in many hounds ; and I do not find 

 that these old-fashioned-looking gentlemen are a bit worse than 

 their more dandified-looking brethren. 



Mr. Ward was, undoubtedly, one of the best breeders of fox- 

 hounds in his day ; some of them, it must be confessed, were 

 rather throaty, with large heads as well, but the frame-work 

 was generally correct. They were, however, good at their game, 

 steady drawers, good and quick hunters, and stout to the last. 

 They were too large unquestionably for the flinty country they 

 hunted, and their feet suffered severely ; but when they changed 

 their country, no pack of hounds ever showed more sport. 

 They could do what many packs cannot afford to do — give their 

 fox a fair start, and make pretty sure of catching him after- 

 wards. Good heads and necks are very desirable for appearance 

 sake, but they are not to be considered essential points. 



The earlier you can begin breeding the better. November is 

 the earliest month for coupling, but whelps born after May 

 seldom arrive at perfection. The season exercises a decided 

 influence over young animals of almost every kind, I believe — 

 certainly over horses and hounds. Of this I saw a remarkable 

 instance in two litters of puppies by the same sire and dam, in 

 two successive seasons. The first litter, produced in the month 

 of February, were very clever, \yith good legs and feet; the 

 second litter, born in June following, were just the reverse ; in 

 fact, out of the five whelps saved, there was not one with 

 straight legs. As they were a very favourite sort, they were, 

 notwithstanding, put forward, and they turned out quite as 

 good as their better favoured brothers and sisters, but from 



