MODERN FARRIER. 513 



the protection of, the horses and carriage to which 

 he belongs. He always contributes to the splendour 

 of a stable establishment, and the carriage is never 

 brought into use without his appearance in his oifi-^ 

 cial capacity ; his attendance upon the horses, when 

 in a state of inactivity, and his exulting conscious- 

 ness of dignity in preceding the carriage, constitute 

 his whole employ and happiness. This is a pretty 

 spotted animal, and the most inoffensive of the ca- 

 nine race. 



40. The Stag-JiGund. 



This animal possesses a majestic, dignified, and 

 serene countenance, and is held in high estimation. 

 Naturalists of the first celebrity have considered the 

 hound, harrier, turnspit, water-dog, and spaniel, to 

 have been of the same race, as they differ only in 

 the length of their legs, and size of their ears. The 

 stag-hound, now in use for the pursuit of deer, ori- 

 ginated from the fox-hound and the blood-hound. 

 The original stock of blood-hounds exceeded in size, 

 strength, and courage, every other kind of hound in 

 existence : they were seldom brought into the chase, 

 or employed in the sports of the field, but kept en- 

 tirely for the purposes of detection. When laid on 

 the scent, they were sure to trace out the deer- 

 stealer. They are still used in Cuba, and were 

 lately employed in the Maroon war in Jamaica. 

 Very few of these dogs are now kept in this country. 



41. The Fox-hound. 



Much attention has been paid to the improvement 

 of this breed ; and it is the opinion of a celebrated 

 sportsman, that there are necessary points in the 

 shape of a fox-hound, which ought always to be at- 

 tended to ; for if he be not of perfect symmetry, he 

 will neither run fast nor do much work ; having a 

 great deal to undergo, he should have strength pro- 

 portioned to " the task : his legs should be straight 



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