326 THE HOLXD. 



in the breeding of the modern fox-hound, the minor 

 points of high form and blood are more frequently 

 considered than they should be, in preference of a 

 regard to nose. 



The Fox-Hound. — The English fox-hound of 

 the present day is a perfect living model ; but how 

 he has become such, it is in no one's power to de- 

 termine. Although we do not like to apply the 

 term of mongrel to an animal we so highly respect, 

 yet there can be no doubt of his being one of a 

 spurious race, engrafted with care on the parent 

 stock, namely, the old English blood-hound. There 

 is, we belieye also, no doubt that a century and a 

 half ago there was no animal in the world resem- 

 bling the present breed of fox-hound ; and- that the 

 fox, when hunted at all in Great Britain, was 

 hunted by a dog much resembling what is now- 

 known as the Welch harrier, rough-haired and 

 strong, but of very far from sightly appearance. 

 As all animals, however, improve under the care 

 and guidance of man, until at length they assume 

 the character of a distinct breed, such has evidently 

 been the case w^ith hounds, the breeders of which 

 have, by going from better to better in their choice 

 of the animals from which they have bred, progres- 

 sively arrived at the perfection we see in them. 

 And such has been the case with all our domestic 

 animals, the breeders of which have alone attained 

 their ends by the choice of individuals of the 

 highest excellence in their kind, and by a judicious 

 selection of size, form, and qualities likely to pro- 



