32 TUB TALBOT. 



not ask a question, being thoroughly convinced, 

 from their appearance, of the fact), he was tokl that 

 they Avere an original pack of harriers crossed with 

 fox -hounds. 



How, or when the dog we call a fox-hound was 

 produced, there would be great difficulty in deter- 

 mining, although it is not unreasonable to suppose 

 there might have been an original species of hound, 

 from which our several varieties, with judicious 

 crossing, are descended. 



The Talbot is a dog spoken of as of great an- 

 tiquity, and is described by a very old Avritcr on 

 sporting as " a large, heavy, and slow hound ; 

 black, black tanned, or liver coloured, with a 

 round thick head, short nose, uprising large open 

 nostrils ; ears large and thin, hanging much below 

 his chaps ; the flews of his upper lip almost two 

 inches low^er than his nether jaw, indicating a 

 more deep mouth and a loud ringer ; back strong 

 and straight, and rather rising, showing toughness 

 and endurance ; fillets broad and thick, enabling 

 him to gather up his legs quickly and without 

 pain ; his knuckle bones round and hidden, show- 

 ing he will not tire ; thighs round, and ham 

 straight ; tail long and rush groAvn, or big at the 

 setting on and tapering ; the hair under his belly 

 hard and wiry, a proof of hardness ; his legs large, 



