82 DOMESTICATED DOGS. 



pedigree in the remotest degree, and are only set down in the stud 

 book as by " Fox " out of " Vie," or some similarly indefinite 

 parentage. Of course there are " Foxes " and " Foxes," but the 

 particular " Fox " is quite as likely to be some unknown animal 

 as to be the son of old " Jock," belonging to Mr. Cropper, which 

 would entitle him to be considered A-i on the side of his sire. 

 Such shape and colour as will entitle the possessor to a chance 

 of a prize are considered as far more important than pedigree, 

 and when they are sufficient, the dog is entered as by " nobody's 

 Jack out of somebody's Jill," and all is done which is required 

 by "the fancy." Of course a first-class pedigree enhances the 

 value in the market ; but it is seldom that perfection in all re- 

 spects can be attained, and as this kind of dog is now seldom 

 used for entering a fox-earth, pedigree is not so necessary as hi 

 the case of a greyhound, foxhound, pointer, or setter, where per- 

 formance goes even before good looks. 



Until within the last thirty or forty years, terriers were at- 

 tached in IVos and threes to most foxhound-packs, and in some 

 countries drew the coverts with them, keeping at the tail of the 

 pack when running if the pace was not very good, and even if it 

 was so, generally managing to make up their leeway at each 

 check. As the fields of horsemen became larger the poor little 

 " follower " was constantly ridden over in his attempt to get to 

 the front, and so it came to pass that he was usually left at 

 home or sent to some farmhouse near the earths likely to be ■' 

 entered on the day in question. Many packs rely on chance 

 for the nearest terrier, and, as a consequence, the veritable fox- 

 hound terrier entered to .his game is rare indeed. 



Most of the best modern strains trace back to the "Wynnstay 

 blood or that of Mr. Foljambe, and, as a natural consequence, 

 Mr. John Walker, formerly huntsman to Sir "Watkyns Wynn, 



