THE BLOODHOUND. 125 



dimensions but width, in which there is a remarkable deficiency. The upper 

 surface is domed, ending in a blunt point at the occiput; but the brain case is 

 not developed to the same extent as the jaws, which are very long and wide at 

 the nostrils, hollow and very lean in the cheeks and notably under the eyes. The 

 brows are moderately prominent, and the general expression of the whole head 

 is very grand and majestic. The skin covering the forehead and cheeks is 

 wrinkled in a remarkable manner, wholly unlike any other dog. These points are 

 not nearly so fully developed in the bitch ; but still they are to be demanded in 

 the same proportionate degree. 



2. Ears and eyes (value 10). The ears are long enough to overlap one another 

 considerably when drawn together in front of the nose ; the " leather " should be 

 very thin, and should hang very forward and close to the cheeks, never showing 

 the slightest tendency to " prick " they should be covered with very short, soft, 

 and silky hair. The eyes are generally hazel, rather small, and deeply sunk, 

 showing the third eyelid or " haw," which is frequently but not always of a deep 

 red colour ; this redness of the haw is, as a rule, an indication of bloodhound cross 

 wherever it is met with, whether in the mastiff, Gordon setter, or St. Bernard, 

 though occasionally I have met with it in breeds in which no trace of the bloodhound 

 could be detected. 



3. The flews (value 5) are remarkably long and pendant, sometimes falling fully 

 two inches below the angle of the mouth. 



4. The neck (value 5) is long, so as to enable this hound to drop his nose to 

 the ground without altering his pace. In front of the throat there is a considerable 

 dewlap. 



5. Chest and shoulders (value 10). The chest is rather wide than deep, but in 

 any case there should be a good girth ; shoulders sloping and muscular. 



6. The back and back ribs (value 10) should be wide and deep, the size of the 

 dog necessitating great power in this department. The hips, or " couples," should 

 be specially attended to, and they should be wide, or almost ragged. 



7. Legs and feet (value 20). Many bloodhounds are very deficient in these 

 important parts, owing to confinement. The legs must be straight and muscular, 

 and the angles of full size; but it is not to be expected that the upright and 

 powerful pasterns so dear to the M.F.H. should be found in the bloodhound. The 

 feet also are often flat, but they should be, if possible, round and catlike. 



8. Colour and coat (value 10). In colour the bloodhound is either black and 

 tan, or tan only, as is the case with all black and tan breeds. The absence of black 

 is a great defect, but many well-bred litters contain one or two tan puppies 

 without it. The black should extend to the back, the sides, top of the neck, and 

 top of the head. It is seldom a pure black, but more or less mixed with the tan, 

 which should be a deep rich red. There should be little or no white. The coat 

 should be short and hard on the body, but silky on the ear and top of the head. 



9. The stern (value 5) is, like that of all hounds, carried gaily in a gentle curve, 

 but it should not be raised beyond a right angle with the back. The lower side is 

 fringed with hair about two inches long, ending in a point. 



