Foxhounds 135 



judgment and care, and for the purity and point 

 of perfection to which the strain has been brought. 

 The model the old gentleman evidently had be- 

 fore him was based upon endurance and game- 

 ness, with as much speed, nose, and mouth as were 

 compatible with these qualities. And he suc- 

 ceeded marvellously. The Walker hounds are 

 fast; yet have fine powers of scent and are 

 musical of tongue. For grit and bottom they 

 are without superiors. From experience I can 

 speak of them as good and indefatigable hunters. 

 As trailers they take quite a cold track, but are 

 rather too careful in working, since it causes them 

 oftentimes to be lingerers-on-track and hesitating- 

 on-dodges. As a general thing they hew close to 

 the line and are said to be track-straddlers. Many 

 prefer a hound should straddle, but with me it is 

 a fault. In trailing a fox up it enables the fox 

 to get too long a lead ; while in running with 

 other dogs which have the forward manner of 

 catching up track, a straddler is frequently thrown 

 out or left far in the rear. For catching foxes 

 many prefer the Triggs and Julys, but for a rous- 

 ing fine chase, with plenty of mouth and a run to 

 a finish, the Walkers are excellent. In size and 

 build they are rather larger than the Julys and 

 the Triggs, showing more bone and substance; 

 nor are they quite so trim. They have strong 

 loins, stout muscular legs, yet something lighter 



