and the Maritime Provinces. 421 



top of the head. Stern is carried gaily in a gentle curve, but should not 

 be raised beyond a right angle with the back. Symmetry of form is of 

 great importance. Height should be from twenty-five to twenty-seven 

 inches, and a little less for bitches. Weight of dogs should be about eighty 

 pounds or more, bitches somewhat less. 



Fox-hunting has become one of the most popular of American sports, 

 and the number of valuable packs of foxhounds that this country possesses 

 is very great. Stonehenge, the well-known English writer, in treating of 

 this hound, says : 



" The staghound and foxhound may be considered as the same, the for- 

 mer being only a larger variety of the latter; but though originally descend- 

 ed alike, they are not now bred from the same strains indiscriminately. 



" As with the old deerhound and greyhound, so with these hounds, 

 although their organization and appearance are identical, yet from being 

 entered and kept for many generations, to different game they are to be 

 readily distinguished by their style of hunting. 



" The original stock of these two varieties of the hound is undoubtedly 

 the southern hound, bloodhound or Talbot. But in process of time, when 

 the country was cleared from forest, and more speed was required, and 

 when the horse could be used in order to keep pace with that increased 

 speed, a faster hound was sought for, and the old-fashioned, deep-toned, 

 and careful hound was bred, which has been immortalized by the verse of 

 Somerville and the prose of Beckford. These were faster than the 

 southern hound, but still slow compared with the modern foxhound. In 

 those days the cold scent of the morning drag was hit off by the hound, 

 and the fox was hunted up to his retreat in the woodlands before he had 

 time to digest his nocturnal meal, or to sleep off his fatigue in procuring 

 it. Hence nose was all in all, and the fox being full of food, could not go 

 the pace which he now does at eleven or twelve o 'clock, eight or ten hours 

 after his belly was filled. It is not fully known by what crosses this increase 

 of speed was obtained; the subject was formerly enveloped in. much 

 mystery, and masters of hounds were imbued with a very different spirit 

 to that which prevails among them in the present century. But there is 

 strong reason for believing that the greyhound, and, most probably, the 

 old Scotch deerhound were had recourse to, either directly or through the 

 northern hound, which was a decided cross of the southern hound with 

 the deerhound." 



The modern foxhound is a most extraordinary animal ; fast, almost to 

 the same degree as a slow greyhound, he has wonderful strength and 

 power of endurance, with a hardy constitution. To these invaluable qual- 

 ities, he adds a good nose and great docility, when considered in conjunc- 

 tion with his courage and dash. With regard to his origin, there is strong 



