Chap. XVII. Mammals — Greater Size of Male. 517 



concludes that from 95 to 100 pounds for the male, and 70 for 

 the female, would be a safe average; but there is reason to 

 believe that formerly both sexes attained a greater weight. 

 Mr. Cupples has weighed puppies when a fortnight old ; in one 

 litter the average weight of four males exceeded that of two 

 females by six and a half ounces ; in another litter the average 

 weight of four males exceeded that of one female by less than 

 one ounce; the same males when three weeks old, exceeded 

 the female by seven and a half ounces, and at the age of six 

 weeks by nearly fourteen ounces. Mr. Wright of Yelclersley 

 House, in a letter to Mr. Cupples, says : " I have taken notes on 

 " the sizes and weights of puppies of many litters, and as far as 

 " my experience goes, dog-puppies as a rule differ very little 

 " from bitches till they arrive at about five or six months old ; 

 " and then the dogs begin to increase, gaining upon the bitches 

 " both in weight and size. At birth, and for several weeks 

 " afterwards, a bitch-puppy will occasionally be larger than any 

 " of the dogs, but they are invariably beaten by them later." 

 Mr. McNeill, of Colonsay, concludes that "the males do not 

 ** attain their full growth till over two years old, though the 

 " females attain it sooner." According to Mr. Cupples' expe- 

 rience, male dogs go on growing in stature till they are from 

 twelve to eighteen months old, and in weight till from eighteen 

 to twenty-four months old ; whilst the females cease increasing 

 in stature at the age of from nine to fourteen or fifteen months, 

 and in weight at the age of from twelve to fifteen months. 

 From these various statements it is clear that the full difference 

 in size between the male and female Scotch deerhound is not 

 acquired until rather late in life. The males almost exclusively 

 are used for coursing, for, as Mr. McNeill informs me, the 

 females have not sufficient strength and weight to pull down a 

 full-grown deer. From the names used in old legends, it appears, 

 as I hear from Mr. Cupples, that, at a very ancient period, the 

 males were the most celebrated, the females being mentioned 

 only as the mothers of famous dogs. Hence, during many 

 generations, it is the male which has been chiefly tested for 

 strength, size, speed, and courage, and the best will have been 

 bred from. As, however, the males do not attain their full 

 dimensions until rather late in life, they will have tended, in 

 accordance with the law often indicated, to transmit their 

 characters to their male offspring alone; and thus the great 

 inequality in size between the sexes of the Scotch deer-hound 

 may probably be accounted for. 



hope tha Mi. Cupples will keep account and hisloiy of this famoui 

 to his intention of publishing a full breed. 



