Every Master of Foxhounds insists on legs as straight as an arrow and very strong; size of bone at knees and stifles being specially regarded as important. Not much attention is paid to colour and coat, so long as of good Hound colour, and the latter short, dense, hard and glossy. Typical Hound colours are: black, white and tan (tricolour), black and white and the various "pies," compounded of white and the colours of the hare and badger, or yellow and tan. In some old strains the "blue mottle" of the Southern Hound is still preserved. The stern is gently arched, coming gaily over the back and slightly fringed with hair below. It should taper to a point. The symmetry of the Foxhound is considerable, and what is called "quality" is highly regarded by all Hound judges. Dogs ought to weigh 70 to 80 lbs. and bitches from 60 to 70 lbs. As to height, this varies in accordance with the country over which the Hounds have to hunt. From 22 up to 26 inches, but between these heights is general. It is a very old custom to crop the young Hounds' ears with scissors, the operation being known as "rounding". It is done with the object of preventing the ears from becoming lacerated by briars, etc. Recently there has been a good deal of discussion as to the necessity for a continuance of this practice, many asserting that it is not necessary, and constitutes cruelty. As to the cruelty, there can be no two opinions. The Kennel Club put their veto on the cropping of Bull-terriers, Black-and-tan Terriers, Boarhounds, etc., and there is little doubt that in course of time small ears will be the result. The old type of Foxhound had very much bigger ears than the modern one. All things considered, the author is of opinion that the time has arrived for total abolition of this cruel operation. The following is a list of some of the principal packs of Foxhounds in _England_ Albrighton. Atherston. Badsworth. Beaufort, Duke of. Berkley, Old West. Bicester. Blackmore Vale. Blankney. Braham Moor. Burton. Cambridgeshire. Cornwall, North. Do., East. Cotswold. Do., North. Devon, East. Do., Mid. Do., South. Oxford, South. Quorn. Shropshire, South. Staffordshire, North and South. Worcester. Taunton Vale. Zetland. Warwick, North. Do. Dorset. Essex. Fitzhardinge, Lord. Fitzwilliam, Earl. Flint and Denbigh. Grafton. Kent, East. Do., West. Ledbury. Meynell. Oakley. Rutland, Duke of. Sussex. Tredegar, Lord. York and Ainsty. Whaddon Chase. Yarborough, Earl of. _Some Packs in Scotland_ Buccleuch, Duke of. Lanark and Renfrew. Fife. Eglinton. _Some Packs in Ireland_ Meath. Wexford. King's County. Louth. Waterford. Tipperary. Galway County. Carberry. Carlow. =Harriers=