50 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Form of the Hound. 



but a diversity of colour in a pack, has at least an inter- 

 esting and beautiful appearance. Of the form of the 

 hound, there will not be much difference of opinion : 



" His glossy skin, or yellow-pied, or blue. 



In lights or shades, by nature's pencil drawn, 



Reflects the various tints : his ears and legs 



Fleckt here and there, in gay enamel'd pride. 



Rival the speckled pard ; his rush-grown tail 



O'er his broad back bends in an ample arch ; 



On shoulders clean, upright and firm he stands ; 



His round cat foot, straight hams, and wide-spread thighs, 



And his low dropping chest, confess his speed, 



His strength, his wind, or on the steepy hill, 



Or far-extended plain ; in every part 



So well-proportion'd, that the nicer skill 



Of Phidias himself can't blame thy choice. 



Of such compose thy pack. But here a mean 



Observe, nor the large hound prefer, of size 



Gigantic; he in the thick-woven covert 



Painfully tugs, or in the thorny brake, 



Torn and embarrass'd, bleeds ; but, if too small, 



The pigmy brood in every furrow swims; 



jMoil'd in the clogging clay, panting they lag 



Behind inglorious; or else, shivering creep, 



Benumb'd and faint, beneath the sheltering thorn. 



For hounds of middle size, active and strong, 



Will better answer all thy various ends, 



And crown thy pleasing labours with success." 



It has been observed by Beckford, that "it is the 

 judiciqus cross that makes the complete pack ;" and in 

 this I perfectly agree with him ; but in writing to his 

 friend, he further remarks : — " A very famous sportsman 

 has told me that he frequently breeds from brothers and 

 sisters : as I should be very unwilling to urge any thing 



