172 THE AMEKICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



pageant and procession. He has been the companion of kings and emperors, 

 and pulled down his game in the open by dexterity, force, and speed, without 

 the aid of toils or cross-bow immaterial to him in old days whether it were 

 boar, wolf, or hart no day too long, no game too strong or dangerous, until 

 his eye became dull, his limbs stiff, and his teeth worn down, not so much 

 with years as the hard work, exposure, and wounds inseparable from his 

 occupation, and he was retained at the hall or grange as a pensioner or a com- 

 panion for the rest of his life. 



He has the grand form, the elegant outline, the graceful 

 attitudes and amiable disposition of the Greyhound, but 

 far surpasses him in harmonious color and in texture and 

 quality of coat. The writer has had as many as forty 

 Deerhounds in his kennels at one time, and all have har- 

 monized in color so perfectly as to please the eye of the art 

 connoisseur. A number of them may not be all of exactly 

 the same color, but they will breed true to a color. 

 They may be steel-gray, lemon, or tawny. 



One family that came from Imported Forum was canary- 

 colored, and every one proved true to that color. Not so 

 with any other known breed. There is always a strong 

 family resemblance in a strain of Deerhounds. 



A dog of good proportions should stand thirty-one inches 

 at the shoulder; should measure thirty-five inches around the 

 chest; his fore-arm should measure from eight and one-half 

 to nine and one-half inches; his weight should be from ninety 

 to one hundred and five pounds. He should be compactly 

 built not too long in the loin; this is one of the faults in 

 , many Deerhounds of the present day. When we remember 

 that this dog must have great speed, must often make im- 

 mense leaps after his game, and when he catches it must 

 have sufficient power to kill it which is often a difficult 

 task we see the necessity of a powerful muscular con- 

 formation. 



He must be quick at a turn, to avoid the sharp hoof of 

 the stag. This requires a short, powerful loin and strong 

 quarters. The ooat should be harsh, not wiry, about three 

 inches long; and there should be a good thick under-coat, 

 bristly at the muzzle. On shoulders, neck, and back the 

 outer coat should be coarser than elsewhere. The head 



