122 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



to settle all the horses, and yet every hound will be up. There 

 has been a slight tendency to increase size of late years. The 

 Belvoir dog-hound is within very little of 24 inches instead of 

 23^, the standard of twenty years ago, and this increase has 

 become very general. In elegance of form nothing has been 

 lost, and there can be no other to possess beauty combined 

 with power and the essential points for pace and endurance in 

 the same degree as a Foxhound. 

 A detailed description of the Foxhound is here given : 



Head Somewhat broad, not peaked like the Bloodhound, but long 

 from the apex to the frontal bones, eyebrows very prominent, cheeks 

 cut clean from the eye to the nostril, ears set low and in their natural 

 condition thin and shapely, but not large, nose large, jaw strong and 

 level, and small dewlaps, expression fierce, and with the best often 

 repellent. Eyes Very bright and deeply set, full of determination, 

 and with a very steady expression. The look of the Foxhound is very 

 remarkable. Neck Should be perfectly clean, no skin ruflle whatever, 

 or neck cloth, as huntsmen call it. The length of neck is of importance, 

 both for stooping and giving an air of majesty. Shoulders The blades 

 should be well into the back, and should slant, otherwise be wide and 

 strong, to meet the arms, that should be long and powerful. Legs and 

 Feet The bone should be perfectly straight from the arm downward, 

 and descend in the same degree of size to the ankles, or, as the saying 

 is, " down to his toes." The knee should be almost flat and level ; 

 there should be no curve until coming to the toes, which should be very 

 strong, round, cat-shaped, and every toe clean set as it were. Fore- 

 ribs and Brisket Deep, fine ribs are very essential, and the brisket 

 should be well below the elbows. Back and Loins Back should be 

 straight. A hollow back offends the eye much, and a roach back is 

 worse. The loin wide, back ribs deep and long, a slight prominence 

 over the croup. Quarters and Hocks The quarters cannot be too long, 

 full, showing a second thigh, and meeting a straight hock low down, the 

 shank bone short, and meeting shapely feet. Coat The coat is hard 

 hair, but short and smooth, the texture is as stiff as bristles, but beau- 

 tifully laid. Colour Belvoir tan, which is brown and black, perfectly 

 intermixed, with white markings of various shapes and sizes. The 

 white should be very opaque and clear. Black and white, with tan 

 markings on head and stifles. Badger pied a kind of grey and white. 

 Lemon pied, light yellow and white. Hare pied, a darker yellow and 

 white. Stern Long and carried gaily, but not curled ; often half white. 

 Height Dogs from 23 i to 24 inches ; bitches from 22 to 22 i inches. 



