THE STAGHOUND. 279 
olfactories of the animal are blunted, and it is no longer able to follow the comparatively 
weak scent which is left by the retreating footsteps. 
Both these methods have been successfully employed, but in either case great caution 
is needed. When the hound suspects that the quarry has taken to the water, it swims 
backward aud forward, testing every inch of the bank on both sides, and applying its 
nose to every leaf, stick, or frothy scum that comes floating by. 
In this country the Bloodhound is chiefly employed in deer-shooting, aiding the sports- 
man by singling out some animal, and keeping it ever before him, and by driving it im 
certain directions, giving to its master an opportunity for a shot from his rifle. Should 
the deer not fall to the shot, but be only wounded, it dashes off at a greatly increased 
pace, followed by the Bloodhound, which here displays his qualities. Being guided by the 
blood-drops that stud the path of the wounded animal, the hound has an easy task in 
keeping the trail, and by dint of persevering exertions is sure to come up with his 
prey at last. 
The Bloodhound is generally irascible in temper, and therefore a rather dangerous 
animal to be meddled with by any one excepting its owner. So fierce is its desire for blood, 
and so utterly is it excited when it reaches its prey, that it will often keep its master at 
bay when he approaches, and receive his overtures with such unmistakeable indications 
of anger that he will not venture to approach until his Dog has satisfied its appetite on 
the carease of the animal which it has brought to the ground. When fairly on the 
track of the deer, the Bloodhound utters a peculiar, long, loud, and deep bay, which, if 
once heard, will never be forgotten. 
The modern Bloodhound is not the same animal as that which was known by the 
same title in the days of early English history, the breed of which is supposed to be 
extinct. The ancient Bloodhound was, from all accounts, an animal of extremely irritable 
temper, and therefore more dangerous as a companion than the modern hound. 
The colour of a good Bloodhound ought to be nearly uniform, no white being 
permitted, except on the tip of the stern. The prevailing tints are a blackish-tan, or a 
deep fawn. The tail of this Dog is lone and sweeping, and by certain expressive 
wavings and flourishings of that member, the animal indicates its success or failure. 
CLOsELy allied with the bloodhound is the now rare STAGHOUND, a Dog which is 
supposed to derive its origin from the bloodhound and the greyhound, the latter animal 
being employed in order to add lightness and speed to the exquisite scent and powerful 
limbs of the former. Sometimes the foxhound is used to cross with this animal. 
It is a large and powerful Dog, possessed of very great capabilities of scent, and able, 
like the bloodhound, to hold to the trail on which it is laid, and to distinguish it among 
the footprints of a crowd. Despite of the infusion of greyhound blood, the Staghound 
is hardly so swift an animal as might be conjectured from its proportions, and probably 
on account of its slow pace has fallen into comparative disrepute at the present day. 
Until the death of George III. the stag-chase was greatly in vogue; but since that 
time it has failed to attract the attention of the sporting world, and has oradually yielded 
to the greater charms of the foxhunt. 
The real old English Staghound is now extremely rare, and is in danger of becoming 
entirely extinct. The Dog which is now used for the purpose of chasing the stag is 
simply a very large breed of the foxhound, which, on account of its superior length of 
limb, is more capable of matching itself against the swift-footed deer than the ordinary 
hound. These Dogs are very powerful when in a good state of health, and have been 
known to achieve very wonderful feats of speed and endurance. They have been known 
to run for a distance of fifty miles in pursuit of a stag; and one memorable run is 
recorded, where the stag, and the only two hounds which kept to its trail, were found 
dead close to each other. The stag had made one powerful effort, had leaped over a 
park wall, which the Dogs in their wearied state were unable to surmount, and had fallen 
dead just as it had gained a place of safety. 
It is needful that the Staghound should be a courageous as well as a powerful 
animal; for when the stag is brought to bay it becomes a formidable antagonist, dashing 
