92 HOUNDS 



has the prize in view, there may be the 

 misfortune of just missing the individual 

 taste of the judges in such a matter as con- 

 dition. Some judges will condemn hounds 

 for being too fat, others for being too light. 

 It may appear as absurd to favour a fat 

 hound as it would be to back a fat horse out 

 of training against a properly trained one. 

 Yet it must be admitted that there are good 

 judges, who like to see hounds fat, — why, I 

 will not venture to say, for, with all respect 

 to superior authority, it has always appeared 

 to me that fat is out of place where hard 

 work is required. It is a pitiable sight, when 

 cub-hunting on a hot morning in August or 

 September, to see a lot of panting suet- 

 puddings hanging about outside the covert ; 

 it is equally ugly to watch a lot of gorged 



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