THE DEERHOUND. 



BY Q. VAN HUMMELL, M. D. 



jj] 1ST this animal we have the aristocrat of all the canine 

 I race. He is the best guard, the best companion, and 

 /ll is capable of giving us more royal sport than any other 

 breed of sporting dogs. I say this without fear of suc- 

 cessful contradiction. A high-bred and properly trained 

 Deerhound has more courage and can stand more punish- 

 ment than any other dog. He has stronger attachment for 

 his master or mistress, will fight for him or her quicker and 

 more desperately, will never forget them, and when taken 

 to the field he can run fast enough to catch an antelope, a 

 jack-rabbit, coyote, wolf, deer, or elk, and can kill either of 

 them alone and unaided. He will tree a mountain lion or 

 a black bear, and will even fight a grizzly bear long enough 

 for you to climb a tree or get off a good distance, so that 

 you may kill him without danger to yourself. 



These dogs combine more rare good qualities as a gentle- 

 man' s companion than any other breed in the known 

 world. 



Idstone says of them: 



Pet dogs, of course, are a matter of taste and locality, and space must 

 have much to do with the selection of a companionable dog. If, however, size 

 is no objection, it would be impossible to name any dog superior to the true 

 Deerhound, whether employed in his proper vocation or not, He is gentle in 

 manners, unless roused by the sight of his game and excited to pursue it; he is 

 no sheep-biter; he is a good guard; he "follows" well; he can keep up with 

 hack or carriage; he is not a self -hunter that is, he does not skulk off poach- 

 ing; he is faithful to his master; he is gentle with children, like the far-famed 

 Gelert, his prototype; and he is majestic in appearance. Witness the pict- 

 ures of him by Sir Edwin Landseer, in every variety of attitude, and sharing 

 in all the pleasures ay, even the sorrows of his master. With the hawk or 

 falcon he made up the equipment of the old baron, and slumbered in front of 

 his yule-log, shared in his wassail and revelry, and formed a feature in his 



