OF HoaxDs. 55 



his stoutness, and method of hunting. On no 

 account breed from one that is not stout, that is 

 not tender-nosed, or that is either a babbler* or 

 a skirter. Somervile enjoins still further : 



" Observe with care liis shape, sort, colour, size : 

 Nor will sagacious huntsmen less regard 

 His inward habits ; the vain babbler shun, 

 Ever loquacious, ever in the wrong : 

 His foolish offspring shall offend thy ears 

 With false alarms, and loud impertinence : 

 Nor less the shifting cur avoid, that breaks 

 Illusive from the pack : to the next hedge 

 Devious he strays ; there ev'ry muse he tries : 

 If haply then he cross the streaming scent, 

 Away he flies vain-glorious ; and exults 

 As of the pack supreme, and in his speed 

 And strength unrivall'd. Lo ! cast far behind, 

 His vex'd associates pant, and lab'ring strain 

 To climb the steep ascent. Soon as they reach 

 Th' insulting boaster, his false courage fails ; 

 Behind he lags, doom'd to the fatal noose. 

 His master's hate, and scorn of all the field. 

 What can from such be hop'd, but a base brood 

 Of coward curs, a frantic, vagrant race ?" 



It is the judicious cross that makes the complete 

 pack.-|* The faults and imperfections in one 



• Babbling is one of the worst faults that a hound can be 

 guilty of; it is constantly increasing, and is also catching. 

 This fault, like many others, will sometimes run in the 

 blood. 



-]- I have seen fox-hounds that were bred out of a New- 

 foundland bitch and a fox-hound dog. They are mon- 

 strously ugly, are said to give their tongues sparingly, and 



