24 THE TALBOT 



" That/' I said, " does not alter the case ; they are not 

 thorough-bred fox-hounds, of that I am positive, although 

 clever hounds of the sort, and no doubt may show very 

 good sport." 



And on his making further inquiries (I would not ask 

 a question, being thoroughly convinced, from their 

 appearance, of the fact) he was told that they were 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 determining, 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 antiquity, 

 and is described by a very old writer 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 Hp almost 

 two inches lower 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, showing he will not tire ; thighs round, and 

 hams straight ; tail long and rush grown, or big at the 

 setting on, and tapering ; the hair under his belly hard and 

 wiry, a proof of hardness ; his legs large, bony, and lean ; 

 foot round, high knuckled, and well clawed, with a hind 

 sole. The general composition of his body so just and 

 even, that no level may distinguish whether his fore part 

 or hinder be the higher. Lastly, this hound has the 



