MAMMALS. 589 



From these considerations I was anxious to obtain infor- 

 mation as to the Scotch deer-hound, the sexes of which 

 differ more in size than those of any other breed (though 

 blood-hounds differ considerably), or than in any wild 

 canine species known to me. Accordingly, I applied to 

 Mr. Oupples, well known for his success with this breed, 

 w^ho has weighed and measured many of his own dogs, and 

 who has with great kindness collected for me the following 

 facts from various sources. Fine male dogs, measured at 

 the shoulder, range from 28 inches, which is low, to 33 or 

 even 34 inches in height ; and in weight from 80 pounds, 

 which is light, to 120 pounds, or even more. The 

 females range in height from 23 to 27, or even 

 to 28 inches ; and in weight from 50 to 70, 

 or even 80 pounds.* Mr. Cupples 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. Cup- 

 ples 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 females by seven and a half ounces, and 

 at the age of six weeks by nearly fourteen ounces. Mr. 

 Wright, of Yeldersley House, in a letter to Mr. Oupples 

 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 afterward 

 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. Oupples' 



* See also Richardson's " Manual on the Dog," p. 59. Much valu- 

 able information on the Scottish deer hound is given by Mr. Mc- 

 Neill, who first called attention to the inequality in size between the 

 sexes, in Scrope's " Art of Deer Stalking." I hope that Mr. Cupples 

 will keep to his intention of publishing a full account and history of 

 this famous breed. 



