532 CARNIVORES. 



English hounds are descended from two extinct breeds, respect- 

 ag oun . j^,g2y ]jj^o-mi as the southern hound and the northern hound. Both 

 of these were large heavily-built animals, with thick throats, distinct dew-laps, and 

 large pendent ears resembling those of the bloodhound. Thej^ were slow in pace, 

 and dwelt upon the scent more than their modem descendants. The time English 

 staghound was a considerabh" larger animal than the foxhound, with a relativelj- 

 broader and shorter head, and a more thickly-fringed tail, and was also distinguished 

 by several points in the confomiation of the limbs. The large foxhounds now used 



Foxhound. 



STAGHOCXDS AFTER A CHASE (^ Uat. size). 



for stag-hunting in England stand about 25 inches high in the males, and from 23 

 to 23J inches in the females. 



The modern foxhound, derived from either the old southern or 

 northern hound, with perhaps some cross of a different breed, is 

 remarkable for the combination of speed and endurance which it possesses, and is 

 thus an excellent instance of the results which can be attained by breeding with a 

 particular end in view. The appearance of the foxhound is much modified by the 

 artificial rounding of the ears — a process in which a large portion of the extremity 

 of the lobe is cut away in order to prevent its becoming entangled in bushes. The 

 coat should be short and hard, but at the same time glossj' : the tail having a 



