204 How I Became a Sportsmax. 



of a thousand in my day, many bad ones and 

 many good ones. I have kept otter hounds 

 and beagles, and at one time I had a very 

 nice and unique little pack, all black and tan. 

 Setters and spaniels are the dogs I like best 

 to shoot to and as companions ; but of all 

 breeds of dogs, I am of opinion, and I am 

 not alone, that there is no dog in the whole 

 wide world to compare for one moment with 

 a thorough-bred English fox-hound of the 

 present day. Look at him as he is drawn 

 on the flags, with his long, intelligent- 

 looking, high-crowned head and thoughtful, 

 clear brown eye, his fore legs straight as gun- 

 rods, his round, cat-shaped, compact feet, his 

 beautiful light neck set into sloping, racing- 

 like shoulders, deep chest, wide ribs, well- 

 arched loins, gaily carried sedge-feathered 

 stern, wide powerful quarters, well let down 

 hocks, his beautifully-coloured, brilliant-look- 

 ing coat, and added to all, his magnificent and 

 stately carriage ; again, T say, there is nothing 

 in canine shape that can come near the fox- 

 hound. But what a different animal he is 

 when a fox is before him : he is then full 

 of activity, iire, and animation, from the time 



