176 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



to feather on the legs, as in the Setter, but their inside 

 should be hairy. 



The tail (value 5) should be long and gently curved, 

 without any twist. It should be thinly clothed with hair 

 only. 



Value. Value. 



Skull 10 Symmetry and quality 10 



Nose and jaws 5 Legs and quarters 7i 



Ears and eyes 5 Feet. . . 7i 



Neck 10 Color and coat 10 



Chest and shoulders 10 Tail 5 



Back and back ribs 10 



Elbows and stifles 10 Total 100 



The origin of the Deerhound seems to be shrouded in 

 mystery. The writer has owned and bred Deerhounds for 

 over thirty years, and has during that time read everything 

 relating to them that he could obtain. He has closely 

 questioned every Scotchman whom he has met concerning 

 this breed of dogs, The history given in books has always 

 proved contradictory and of no avail; while every well- 

 informed Scotchman has argued that the Deerhound was 

 the native dog of the Scottish Highlands, and that all other 

 Scotch dogs were merely the result of crosses of the Deer- 

 hound on some alien. They always point to the rough 

 coats of the Collie; the Terrier, and the Scotch Greyhound, 

 and say, ' ' Don' t it show for itself that the remote cross is 

 there." Yet the question as to the real origin of tiie breed 

 is still a mystery, and will probably always remain so. 



. Up to 1860, Deerhounds were not plentiful in England, 

 and but few were exhibited at English shows for some years 

 after that date. America at that time had but few. Scotch- 

 men inform me, however, that in the Highlands of Scot- 

 land they were always plentiful, but owners of kennels 

 cherished them, sold none, and gave away but few. It was 

 some years after the above date that inquiries for them 

 began to be frequent, and since then they have become 

 immensely popular with lovers of the chase, and are 

 rapidly advancing to a high place as companions for both 

 gentlemen and ladies. Of late years, certain sportsmen in 

 the Great West have secured many fine specimens. 



