THE ENGLISH BLOODHOUND. 245 



They were used by Henry VIII. in the wars in France, 

 by Queen Elizabeth against the Irish, and by the Spaniards 

 in Mexico and Peru. 



At a still later time, Bloodhounds were used for the capture of sheep- 

 stealers and others, and a tax was often levied for their maintenance for this 

 purpose. 



It is only in very old writings that we find Talbots, or white Bloodhounds, 

 mentioned. The "thick, round head" Somerville describes would certainly 

 not be admired now, and I believe was never an accurate description of the 

 Bloodhound. A long, narrow, peaked head is indicative of great scenting 

 powers, and large flews and dewlap of a deep, mellow voice. 



The Bloodhound has a much more delicate nose than any other known 

 breed of Hound, and can puzzle out a cold scent under the most adverse condi- 

 tions. He is remarkable for adhering to the scent of the animal on which he 

 is laid. Some years since a pack of Staghounds was kept in Derbyshire, and 

 it was no infrequent occurrence for the hunted deer to take refuge among a 

 herd in some park. In this case the pack was whipped off and a couple of 

 Bloodhounds laid on, who stuck to the hunted deer until they got him clear of 

 the herd, when the pack was again laid on. 



The Bloodhound is easily entered to hunt anything, and with a strong scent 

 will sometimes absolutely sit down on his haunches for a few seconds and 

 throw tongue in sheer delight. The note is deep, mellow, and prolonged, and 

 may be heard for miles. The bay, or " singing," of a kennel of Bloodhounds 

 just before feeding or exercising is most melodious. Edwin Brough in "The 

 Century." 



We make use of the delicate faculty of sense possessed by animals to aid 

 us in the chase, and are so accustomed to rely upon it that its marvelousness 

 escapes attention; but we have no pli3 7 sical faculty so exquisite as this. . . 

 Everyone who has gathered wild plants knows what an immense variety of 

 odors arise from the scents upon the ground; this is the first complication. 

 Next upon that (though we can not detect it) are traced in all directions differ- 

 ent lines of scent laid down by the passage of animals and men; this is the 

 second complication. "Well, across these labyrinths of misleading and disturb- 

 ing odors the dog follows the one scent that he cares for at the time (notwith- 

 standing its incessant adulteration by mixtures) as easily as we could follow a 

 scarlet thread on a green field. If he were only sensible to the one scent he 

 followed, the marvel would be much reduced; but he knows many different 

 odors, and selects among them the one that attracts him at the time. Hamer- 

 ton on Animals. 



There is a dog in the Southern States called the Blood- 

 hound, used to find escaped prisoners and desperadoes, 

 which is somewhat related, probably, to the English Blood- 

 hounds, and there are well-trained packs of them; but, as 

 a general rule, the cross-bred dog is a treacherous one. 



