THE FOXHOUND. 53 
ness. This last point is one much insisted on in the present 
day, and indicates speed derived from the greyhound. It should 
very gradually deepen without widening as it is set on to the 
shoulders, 
The shoulder-blades must be long and muscular, with their 
points lean and well raised from the bosom, but not heavy nor set 
widely apart. The true arm, between them and the elbow, should 
be long, and well clothed with muscle. 
The chest in the average dog hound should girth 30 inches, and 
may be slightly more round than in the greyhound, but still 
should not be quite barrel-like. The back ribs must be deep, 
showing a good constitution, and also giving strong attachment to 
the muscles of the back. 
The hind-quarters must in any case be strong, and most Masters 
prefer them rather straight than much bent at the stifles; but 
this will a good deal depend on the country to be hunted. Over 
stone walls the bent stifle is often injured from hitting the tops, 
and consequently in packs hunting where they abound there is no 
question that they are objectionable. On the other hand, over the 
Leicestershire pastures they undoubtedly give high speed and 
freedom in going at the greatest speed, so that what is best for 
one is worst for the other. Breadth of buttock and quarter is 
always a recommendation. 
The edbows should be set on low, giving a long true arm, and 
neither turning in nor out. 
As to the legs and feet, all are agreed that their formation should 
be regarded as highly important. Nearly every M.F.H. requires 
the fore pasterns to be quite perpendicular, and shaped as if cut 
out of a block of wood. This formation is, however, an exaggera- 
tion of what is wanted, in my opinion, and a slight bend at the 
knee-joint is to be preferred, as shown in the portrait of “ Hermit” 
which illustrates this article. Fore-legs like his are much more 
likely to stand work than the model legs which constitute perfec- 
tion in the eyes of most huntsmen, which soon become “ groggy,” 
and then knuckle over. In all cases the feet should be close, with 
the knuckles well up; and if so, it is not of much consequence 
whether they are quite round and cat-like, or rather inclined to be 
long. 
