202 Forty Years Beagling 



under which his dogs do their best work. If he 

 takes sufficient pride in his pack they will eventually 

 be alike in looks, type and condition and it is in 

 learning this lesson that he will have learned with 

 his hounds how to make a successful quest either 

 on field or bench, for it ought to be the evenly 

 matched team on the bench, quality being near 

 equal, that the first award should go and to the 

 most even working, thorough and in unison pack 

 that should influence judges in making their de- 

 cisions afield. 



"In further referring to condition, a hound may 

 be moderately fleshed, good in coat and free from 

 any skin trouble, and yet be in such rank condition 

 that he feels hke a jelly-fish to the touch. 



"Again, a specimen may appear as though he 

 had been on a fox trail for a week without a feed, 

 yet to the touch there won't be enough flesh to find 

 the condition of the muscle; yet another may look 

 fat and incapable of work, yet on putting the hand 

 on the loins, forearms and ham, the muscle will feel 

 as springy as a piece of rubber. The first two will 

 perhaps have had from half an hour to one hour's 

 attention three or four days a week. The last will 

 have had from two to six hours hard running daily 

 with a liberal meat feeding and be ready to go ten 

 hours' work any time. 



