4 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



selves ; and with regard to sires, it is far better to 

 put one of four or five years' experience to younger 

 bitches, than to use those of the same age. There 

 are faults in form also, as well as in faculties : we 

 rarely see an animal of faultless proportions. It 

 has been generally held amongst agriculturists, that 

 cattle, sheep, and pigs should be short on their legs 

 and light in bone ; but we remember hearing Mr. 

 Northeast, a celebrated breeder of Southdown sheep, 

 and steward of the late Assheton Smith, express 

 a contrary opinion. We were looking over the 

 entry at Tedworth during the master's absence, and 

 I pointed out a young hound of lengthy frame, 

 standing very low. 



" Yes, sir, that young hound is very clever, and 

 what breeders of foxhounds so much admire 

 very near the ground ; but we breeders of sheep 

 like them rather high on the leg." 



"Why?" we asked. 



"For two reasons," was his reply, "first, be- 



they stand well up in the penning when at 



tin.' fair ; and secondly, because they come cleaner 



into the fold at night. After walking over greasy 



fallows, short-legged animals would have the dirt 



sticking to their liellies in wet weather, and lie 



a working !l 



We wen i with this observation, which 



has held a place in our memory ever since, con- 

 firming us in the opinion that horses and hounds 

 may l>e luvd also too low on the 1 



Upon the essential points in the framework of a 

 foxhound, which, combined or properly connected, 



