134 Tbe Sporting Dog 



must be bred to a more alert and active type for 

 our foxes and country. The only issue is whether 

 the breeder shall take the American hound as it 

 stands or start with a fresh importation. 



AMERICAN HOUND STRAINS 



By William I. Varner 



Three families of foxhounds are most promi- 

 nent in the South at the present time, while there 

 are several packs of local fame, the result of indi- 

 vidual fancy in breeding and crossing; not dis- 

 tinct enough, however, to be considered a type. 

 Then there have been many English importations, 

 used mainly for outcrossing, and hardly ever kept 

 pure. At least I am sure that this is true of our 

 Southern country. These three strains are the 

 Walkers, the Triggs, and the Julys, or July-Bird- 

 songs. 



The Walkers are chiefly bred by men in Ken- 

 tucky of that name, and have been shipped to 

 nearly every part of America where foxes are 

 found and where there are devotees of the chase. 

 They have been very carefully bred from the best 

 of Virginia stock, crossed with carefully selected 

 English dogs. Wash Maupin of Kentucky was 

 the founder of this strain, and was himself a man 

 of glorious memory, to whom the brotherhood in 

 the United States are greatly indebted for his 



