HUNTING THE FOX 97 



which would seem obvious, though occasionally 

 forgotten, is that, in the long run, like begets like. 

 If straight Hounds are wanted, it is asking for 

 trouble to breed from crooked ones. If it is desired 

 to breed Hounds with good necks and shoulders, the 

 most likely chance of success is to select a sire 

 with good neck and shoulders, and mate him with 

 a bitch of similar structure in this regard. 



A well-bred pack of Foxhounds will not contain 

 the names of many different foreign sires in its list. 

 The best packs in England are bred from compara- 

 tively few strains. By adhering to these one is 

 sure sooner or later to produce replicas of the best 

 types in certain families ; they are bound to crop 

 up from time to time ; nothing, as far as we under- 

 stand the laws of heredity, can possibly prevent 

 their appearance. If, on the other hand, the 

 M.F.H. goes to all and sundry Kennels in search of 

 a type that pleases the eye, and uses five or six 

 sires of good looks but doubtful ancestry, he may 

 perhaps breed a good-looking one, but he is not 

 likely to breed a stallion hound or a brood bitch 

 that will endow posterity. Therefore, in looking 

 over a pack of Hounds with a view to finding a 

 sire, one should beware of a Hound list that contains 

 sires from a variety of obscure Kennels. When 

 a suitable sire has been selected from a Kennel of 

 good repute, it is wise to send to him one or two 

 of the best-looking bitches from home, and not 



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