SELECTION. 47 



round shoulders, elbows out; small legs, feet out, called 

 cat-footed ; thick balls, round barrel, round croup ; 

 clumsy stern, set on low; sickle-hams, &c. The best cross 

 is a handsome high-mettled fox-hound for a sire, and 

 an over-stanch pointer-bitch for a dam ; then you will 

 have plenty of foot and courage, and no false point. 



When you have chosen a dog agreeable to the 

 description already given, take him into the fields and 

 see if he be a gallant beater, ranging high, running 

 within himself, not over-reaching nor clambering, his 

 nose up and turned to the wind, endeavouring to catch 

 the flying scent ; making his casts, twists, and offers 

 gallantly; not hanging on the haunt, nor puzzling for 

 the ground scent. He must quarter his ground regu- 

 larly, and independent of his partner ; not missing the 

 corners of the fields. He must neither skulk, skirt, 

 break field, follow, watch, blink, hug, labour, nor point 

 at sight, nor be hard-nosed, or near-scented ; but wind 

 his game at long distances, keep his points fast, back 

 the same without jealousy, crouch to dog, bird, and 

 gun, to the signal of the hand, and the words " To-ho !" 

 without being captious or capricious. The latter means 

 his standing, when you call, and neglecting to come. 

 If you see him chap his point, it is an excellent 

 symptom ; if he mouthe and hug his game, it discovers 

 the real zest. If a dog has not been well trained when 

 he comes upon the haunt, you will see him flourish, 

 twist, dash, jump, run at shot, &c., which are the effects 

 of high courage, and are to be remedied by practice. 



