Part 6

NECK.—Powerful, with heavy dewlaps; elbows must not turn out; chest deep and full; body long and low.

LEGS AND FEET.—Fore legs short (about 4 inches), close-fitting to chest; massive paw, each toe standing out distinctly.

STIFLES.—Well bent; quarters muscular, giving the dog a barrel-like shape and a peculiar waddling gait.

STERN.—Coarse underneath, and carried hound fashion, i.e., carried gaily.

COAT.—Short, smooth, fine, and glossy; skin loose and elastic.

COLOR.—Black, white and tan, with black patches on back; also sometimes hare-pied.

WEIGHT.—Thirty to forty-five pounds.

THE HOUND (BEAGLE).

FRANK FOREST.]

ORIGIN.—This breed seems to be little else than a diminutive foxhound; has long been in existence; probably one of the oldest of British dogs.

USES.—Hunting rabbits, and generally run in packs of five to ten couples; they are merry little fellows, sturdy and gamy, with a most musical tongue and a very keen nose.

* SCALE OF POINTS, ETC.

Value. Skull 5 Ears 15 Eyes 10 Muzzle, jaw, and lips 5 Neck 5 Shoulders and chest 10 Back and loins 15 Ribs 5 Fore legs and feet 10 Hips, thighs, and hind legs 10 Tail 5 Coat 5 --- Total 100

HEAD.—Skull moderately domed. Ears set on low, long and fine in leather, rather broad and rounded at tips, absence of all erectile power. Eyes full, prominent, rather wide apart, soft and lustrous. Muzzle medium length, squarely cut; stop well defined; jaws level; lips either free from or with moderate flews; nostrils large.

NECK AND THROAT.—Neck free in action, strong, yet not loaded; throat clean, free from folds of skin.

SHOULDERS AND CHEST.—Shoulders somewhat sloping, muscular, but not loaded; chest moderately broad and full.

BACK, LOINS, AND RIBS.—Back short and strong; loins broad and slightly arched; ribs well sprung.

FORE LEGS AND FEET.—Fore legs straight, plenty of bone; feet close, firm, either round or hare-like.

HIPS, THIGHS, AND HIND LEGS.—Hips muscular; stifles strong and well let down; hocks firm.

TAIL.—Carried gaily, well up, medium curve, and clothed with a decided brush.

HEIGHT.—Fifteen inches.

COLOR.—All hound colors admissible. (See Foxhound.)

DEFECTS.—Flat skull; short ears, set on too high, pointed at tips; eyes yellow or light color; muzzle snipy; thick, short neck; elbows out; knees knuckled over; long tail with “tea-pot” curve.

DISQUALIFICATIONS.—Eyes close together and terrier-like; thin rat-tail, with absence of brush; short, nappy coat.

THE HOUND (BLOODHOUND).

CHAMPION VICTOR.]

ORIGIN.—In Barbour’s “Bruce” (1489) we find the earliest mention of the bloodhound, where it is called the “sleuthhund.” However, little can be learned definitely of its origin.

USES.—Having scenting powers to a marvelous degree, it is used in trailing wounded deer, slaves, sheep-stealers, escaped convicts, etc.