11 OCTOBER 1935, Page 17

A New Foxhound

There are many interesting points about the breed. ing of foxhounds. One American M.F.H. who has hn- ported English foxhounds into his country has accused Peterborough of destroying the virtue of the breed. His thesis was that the show points fostered by the Peterborough show (which is the greatest foxhound competition of the year) have discouraged such virtues as nose and even stamina. There may be some, if small, justification for this opinion, and we all know how shows have destroyed the foxterrier, if not the foxhound, and the bulldog. A. dog meant to go to earth has developed length of leg and thinness of snout. A dog meant to have an invincible grip cannot bite at all. Perhaps the show has done some injury to the foxhound ; but however 1hat may be, it is certain that there are hounds possessed of the very best hunting qualities which would not dare to enter the show-ring for fear of ridicule. One of these is of Welsh origin. It is often shaggy, rather small and sometimes suggestive of the " bobbery " pack, yet it is a famous hunter. This Welsh hound has now been most successfully crossed with the standard foxhound ; and this year's puppies are really beautiful specimens. About the head they have the lemon colouring of the best tradition ; and for the rest are rather sparsely patched with black. Their form and vigour are beyond cavil ; and it is believed that they possess in un- diminished power the nose and stamina of their Welsh for-