2 9 6 BEARING. 



final shape ; but either soon after that time, or a day or two after 

 birth, a pretty good guess may be given, subject to the continua- 

 tion of health, and to proper rearing in all respects. Bad feet can 

 soon be detected, but the limbs grow into a good shape after most 

 extraordinary deviations from the line of beauty, particularly in 

 the greyhound, which is often apparently deformed in his joints 

 when half grown. The most unwieldy-looking animals often fine 

 down into the best shapes, and should not be carelessly rejected 

 without the fiat being pronounced by a breeder of experience. 



CROPPING, BRANDING, AND ROUNDING. 



If terriers are to be cropped, the beginning or end of the fourth 

 month is the best time to choose ; and, before sending out to walk, 

 hounds are branded with the initials of the master or of the hunt, 

 a hot iron shaped like the letter itself being used. Both cropping 

 and rounding require practice to perform them well, a large sharp 

 pair of scissors being used, and care being necessary to hold the 

 two layers of skin in the ear in their natural position, to prevent 

 the one rolling on the other, and thus leaving one larger than the 

 other. Foxhounds have so much work in covert that rounding is 

 imperatively called for to prevent the ears from being torn, and 

 it always has been adopted as a universal practice, different 

 huntsmen varying in the quantity removed. Some people after 

 cutting one ear lay the piece removed on the other, and so mark 

 . exactly the amount which is to be removed from it ; but this is a 

 clumsy expedient, and, if the eye is not good enough to direct the 

 hand without this measurement, the operation will seldom be 

 effected to the satisfaction of the owner of the dog. It is usual 

 to round foxhound puppies after they come in from their walks ; 



