Foxhounds 141 



should use other than the thoroughbred horse 

 for the race. 



There is no such distinction in fact as an 

 EngHsh foxhound and an American foxhound. 

 A thoroughbred foxhound is the same in Eng- 

 land as in America. We come down to the dis- 

 tinction of hounds of pure blood and hounds that 

 have been crossed with other breeds. These 

 crosses have been so numerous that it is impos- 

 sible to breed these crossed or so-called " native " 

 hounds with any degree of certainty as to what 

 the produce will be. It is a demonstrated fact 

 that every departure in breeding from the pure 

 blood is a step backwards, and destroys some one 

 of the qualities necessary to that perfect hound 

 for the chase which has been brought about by 

 centuries of breeding in England. When this 

 pure blood is developed in America and hunted 

 on our wilder foxes, I think that the result is a 

 more alert and active hound, although in time it 

 may have less bone than those bred in the old 

 country. 



In my opinion the American hound is not a 

 distinct breed. Being made up of numerous 

 crosses from time to time, with no kennel records, 

 there is hardly a type which you can point to and 

 say, " Now, this is an American hound." To 

 illustrate what I mean, I refer you to two " Amer- 

 ican " hounds which were winners in the recent 



