6. Back And Back Ribs (Value 10)

Without a powerful loin a large dog like this cannot sustain the sweeping stride which he possesses, and therefore a deep and wide development of muscle filling up the space between wide back ribs and somewhat ragged hips is the desideratum. A good loin should measure 25 or 26 inches in show condition. The back ribs are often rather shallow, but they must be wide, or what is called " well sprung," and the loin should be arched, drooping to the root of the tail.

7. Elbows And Stifles (Value 10)

7. Elbows and stifles (value 10), if well placed, give great liberty of action, and the contrary if they are confined by being too close together. These points should therefore be carefully examined. The elbows must be well let down to give length to the true arm, and should be quite straight, that is, neither turned in or out. The stifles should be wide apart and set well forward to give length to the upper thigh. Many otherwise well-made deerhounds are very straight in their stifles.

8. The High Symmetry (Value 10)

8. The high symmetry (value 10) of this dog is essential to his position as a companionable dog, and it is therefore estimated accordingly. Quality is also to be regarded as of great importance.

9. Legs And Quarters (Value 7 1/2)

Great bone and muscle must go to the formation of these parts, and the bones must be well put together at the knees and hocks, which should be long and well developed. The quarters are deep but seldom wide, and there is often a considerable slope to the tail. Some of the most successful dogs lately exhibited, and notably Mr. Musters's Torunn and Mr. Beasley's Countess, have been nearly straight backed, but this shape is not approved of by deerstalkers.

10. The Feet (Value 7 1/2)

10. The feet (value 7 1/2) should be well arched in the toes and catlike - a wide spreading foot is often met with, but should be specially condemned.

11. Colour And Coat (Value 10)

The colours most in request are dark blue, fawn, grizzle, and brindled, the latter with a more or less tint of blue. The fawn should have the tips of the ears dark, but some otherwise good fawns are pale throughout. The grizzle generally has a decided tint of blue in it. White is to be avoided either on breast or toes, but it should not disqualify a dog. The coat (value 5) is coarser on the back than elsewhere, and by many good judges it is thought that even on the back it should be intermediate between silk and wool, and not the coarse hair often met with; and there is no doubt that both kinds of coat are found in some of the best strains. The whole body is clothed with a rough coat sometimes amounting to shagginess, that of the muzzle is longer in proportion than elsewhere, but the moustache should not be wiry, and should stand out in irregular tufts. There should be no approach to feather on the legs as in the setter, but their inside should be hairy.

12. The Tail (Value 5)

12. The tail (value 5) should be long and gently curved, without any twist. It should be thinly clothed with hair only.

The most successful exhibitor at our shows for the last ten years is Mr. Chaworth Musters, of Kirk Langton, with his two Torunns, father and son. The old dog was of the Monzie strain, and was the sire of several prize winners, including Brenda, Hylda, Meg, Mr. Parkes's Bevis, Hilda and Teeldar, the younger Torunn, and Mr. Fitt's Bruce, all which (except the first two) were from sister to Morni, his chief competitor on the show bench. Next to him comes Mr. J. N. Beasley, of Brampton House, Northampton, with Alder and Countess, both with unknown pedigrees; and third, very nearly approaching them indeed, is Mr. Hickman, of Birmingham, whose Morni alone has taken eight first or champion prizes, whereas Old Torunn stopped short at five. Countess was undoubtedly, in my opinion, the most beautiful deerhound I ever saw, and quite unapproached by either dog or bitch; Mr. Allen's fawn bitch Hylda (the dam of Morni), who took the second prize to her at Birmingham in 1867, being also a splendid specimen of the breed. The latter was by a dog in Her Majesty's kennels.

Bran, whose portrait is retained as showing well all the points of the deerhound, was by Mr. Stewart Hodgson's Oscar, son of a dog belonging to Colonel Lennard, of Wickham-cross, and of the breed of Mr. M'Kenzie, of Applecross, Boss-shire. His dam was Mr. Cole's (Her Majesty's keeper) Hylda, by his Old Kieldar out of Tank; Old Kieldar by Hector, a dog presented to Her Majesty by Mr. Campbell, of Monzie.

The measurement of Bran was as follows: From nose to setting on of tail, 47 inches; tail, 22 inches; height, 32 inches; length of head, 12 inches; circumference of head, 17 1/2 inches; round arm at elbow, 9 1/2 inches; girth at chest, 33 1/2 inches; girth at loin, 24 inches; round thigh, 17? inches; round lower thigh hock, 7 inches: knee, 7 inches.