692 
MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 
the principal difference consisting in the length of their 
legs and the size of their ears, which are in all of them soft 
in their texture and pendulous. The head is large, broad, 
and shorter in proportion than that of the foxhound, 
with wider nostrils, and the hams more muscular, and he 
carries Jiis tail high, whether at rest or in the chase. The 
hound and harrier are supposed to be natives of Britain, 
France, and Germany; an opinion which is attended with 
some degree of reason, for when transported to warmer 
climates they degenerate. 
It seems extremely probable that this large, strong, and 
bony hound was the primeval stock from which all the col¬ 
lateral branches of this race have descended; and that all 
deviations from the original stem have been the result of 
crosses and improvements during many centuries, by those 
skilled in breeding and rearing dogs of the chase, and varied 
in size and strength, according to the particular sport for 
which they were intended. At the present day, it is well 
known that the practical breeder, by judicious crosses, can 
either enlarge or diminish the stature and strength of his 
pack in the course of three or four generations. 
The following fact affords a striking proof of the wonder¬ 
ful spirit of the staghound in supporting a continuance of 
exertion. Many years since, a very large and powerful stag 
was turned out at Whinfield Park, in the county of West¬ 
moreland, and was pursued by the hounds till, by fatigue or 
accident, the whole pack was thrown out, except two stanch 
and favourite dogs, which continued the chase the greatest 
part of the day. The stag returned to the park from whence 
he set out, and, as his last effort, leapt the wall, and imme¬ 
diately expired. One of the hounds pursued him to the wall, 
but being unable to get over, lay down and almost instantly 
died ; the other was found dead at a little distance. 
