Foxhounds 139 



with gray. In build they are upon very racy 

 Hnes, Hght of bone and wiry. Their coats are 

 coarse and long, their tails strong, straight, and 

 usually heavy in brush; while their ears are short, 

 soft, and thin. Their tongue or cry in running is 

 short and given in rapid succession. They are 

 disposed to squeal at intervals. The energetic 

 fire, peculiar to most American fox-breeds in 

 tonguing, is pronounced, and no one needs to tell 

 you that whatever is in front is moving. While 

 you cannot but wish that the note were fuller, you 

 find yourself wondering whether any living ani- 

 mal could sound a stronger cry when going at the 

 clip they travel. It is hard for a deer or a red fox 

 to stay ahead of them — that is a well-trained 

 pack of them — for two hours. 



PURE ENGLISH HOUNDS 



By Charles E. Mather 



What hounds shall I use ? From the point of 

 view of one who wishes to follow a pack of fox- 

 hounds across the country, what constitutes a 

 good pack of hounds .^ Fifteen or twenty couple 

 of hounds that work and run well together can 

 find a fox, where foxes are to be found, follow the 

 scent to the death or until the fox goes to earth, 

 and all be in at the finish ; all the while keeping 

 up the music that adds the charm to the sport. 



