H ALL ABOUT DOGS 



his neck thin ; his tail thick and brushy ; if he carries 

 it well, so much the better. Such young hounds, as 

 are out at the elbow, or weak from the knee to the foot, 

 should never be taken into the pack. I find that I have 

 mentioned a " small head " as one of the necessary 

 points about a hound, you will please to understand it, 

 as relative to beauty only, for as to goodness, I believe 

 large headed hounds are in no way inferior. As to 

 colour, there is much diversity of taste ; very often the 

 head and ears are of a brilliant red, or fallow, with a 

 white mouth and lips, and a streak of white, technically 

 known as a " blaze," down the head, a white collar and 

 chest, more or less black markings in blotches, or a 

 saddle on the body, and part of tail, white legs and 

 belly. The rich colour on head has a pleasing effect, 

 and if the cheeks are tan-marked, and there is the white 

 " blaze " before mentioned, it gives a light character to 

 the head, or, if orange is mixed with, and under, the 

 black markings, such would form " almost a perfect 

 combination of true hound colouring." I may, fitly, 

 conclude my few remarks on this interesting breed with 

 the following description of the desired points : The 

 head should be light, airy, sensible, and, at the same 

 time, full of dignity ; it should have a certain amount 

 of chops, and the forehead slightly wrinkled. The 

 neck should be long and clean; the least looseness, or 

 throatiness, is fatal to appearance. Where it joins the 

 head, it should be fine, gradually widening to the 

 shoulders. A long neck is most important, in the 

 breed, as helping the scent, whereas, a short neck, not 

 only would impede action, but pace, also. The ears 



