Note 92 — ARRIAN ON COURSING.
William Dansey translation
De Venat. c. iii.
Illustrations of Gratius.
Bad-footed hounds, however high-couraged, are unable to bear work, according to Xenophon, on account of the pain they endure in running, διὰ τὸ ἄλγος τῶν ποδῶν. No cynegeticon omits the essential feature of a well-formed foot; which, in Wase’s words, should be “round, high-knuckled, and well-clawed, with a dry hard soal.”
Gratii Cyneg. 276.
Effuge qui latâ pandit vestigia plantâ, Mollis in officio, siccis ego dura lacertis Crura velim, et solidos hæc in certamina calces.
Fracastorius,
Alcon.
Ima pedum parvâ signent vestigia plantâ.
De Venatione.
Tardif explains the cat-like foot, “pedes parvi, digitis duris, et aptè conjunctis, ne quid terræ aut luti in vià admittant:” and Savary of Caen,
Album Dianæ Leporicidæ. L. ii.
—— brevemque pedes glomerentur in orbem Parvaque compactis digitis vestigia forment.