240 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



hounds inherit most good quahties from the dog or 

 from the bitch. Having selected a bitch of three 

 seasons, which had never distinguished herself, 

 either as good in drawing, in the chase, or in 

 cold-hunting, although having no decided fault as 

 to slackness, and put this bitch to some dog 

 which was considered to have most of the good 

 quahties required in a fox-hound, the produce in- 

 herited only some of them. 



He also tried the experiment the other way, 

 selecting a dog hound of three or four seasons, 

 which had not shown himself a good dra^ver, good 

 in the chase, or a good cold-hunter. This dog was 

 put to an extraordinary good bitch, which had most 

 of the quahties required ; and the produce was in 

 every instance superior. It is fair to add, that the 

 last-mentioned bitches Avere from the best blood, 

 which will generally prove to be the case, if they 

 are remarkable, although probably a generation or 

 two back. 



It is a remarkable fact in breeding, and worthy 

 of notice, that if a young hound has any peculiarity 

 which the sire had, such as standing in a particular 

 way in the kennel, or in following closely the hunts- 

 man's horse, or any other trick of the sire, he will 

 also generally inherit with it all his good quahties. 



