Class I. DOG. 63 



is a very different fpecies from the Agajfeus of Op- 

 pian^ for which it might be miftaken from the ^x- 

 militude of names : this hedefcribes as a fmall kind 

 of dog, peculiar to Great-Britain \ and then goes 

 on with thefe words ; 



Curvum^ macilentum^ hifpidum^ oculis pigrum, 



what he adds afterwards, ftill marks the difference 

 more ftrongly ; 



Naribus autem longe praftantiffunus eft agajfeus. 



From Oppian's whole defcription, it is plain 

 he meant our Beagle*. 



The next kind is the Leporarius^ or Gre-hound, 

 Dr. Caius informs us, that it takes its name q^uod 

 pracipui gradus Jit inter canes ; the firft in rank 

 among dogs : that it was formerly efleemed {o^ 

 appears from the foreft laws of king Canute ; who 

 enadled, that no one under the degree of a gentle- 

 man fhould prefume to keep a gre-hound j and ftill 

 more ftrongly from an old PTelJh faying; JVrtb 

 ei IValch^ ei Farch^ di Filgi^ yr adwaenir Bonhed- 

 dig : Which fignifies, that you may know a gentle- 

 man by his hawk, his horfe and his gre-hound. 



* Opp, Cjneg. lib. i. lin. 473. 476. 

 Ne?nejianus alfo celebrates our dogs, 



Divifa Britannia mittit 

 Veloces, noftriq^ue orbis venantibus aptos. 



Froif- 



