436 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



himself only the last for self and master also. Yet 

 it so happens that the hound has done his work 

 nearly about the time that the horse has begun his 

 in earnest. At seven years old the hunter is in his 

 prime, whilst by the end of that period the career 

 of a foxhound is nearly, if not quite, brought to a 

 close ; double these years, and the hunter sees the 

 last of his season. Now, strictly speaking, as a 

 general rule, a dog of seven years, in any other 

 than a foxhunting establishment, is not a worn-out 

 helpless old animal. Some dogs enjoy the use of 

 all their faculties speed, perhaps, excepted until 

 they have reached double that age. In short, we 

 have known many dogs with their sense of hearing, 

 seeing, and scenting unimpaired until reaching their 

 sixteenth year; and we have been told of others 

 attaining the age of twenty-one before ordered out 

 for execution. 



Dogs of all other denominations appear to be 

 endowed with greater longevity than foxhounds, 

 which, from their symmetry, bodily prowess, and 

 courage, might be supposed to surpass every other 

 variety of the canine species; and yet we find a 

 bandy-legged cur, without one single point of bodily 

 form in his favour, going on his beat of life years 

 after a foxhound of the same age has been contri- 

 buting to the growth of apples. How does this 

 happen ? Is the foxhound really a deceiver ? Have 

 we partially invested him with powers and endur- 

 ance beyond his nature ? Not so ; but the course 

 of his feeding is the cause of his failing. It has 

 been ascertained, and proved beyond contradiction, 



