THE SCOTCH DEERHOUND 119 



Deerhounds fetched large prices on their disposal at Aldridge's many 

 years ago, was of the same opinion, and informed my father that 

 large dogs were useless for deerstalking. I have had personal 

 knowledge of five kennels of Deerhounds, kept for work alone in 

 the Highlands, and from all connected with them I have always 

 heard the same opinion expressed as to the uselessness of the very 

 large dogs. In the case of three noted show dogs of late years, all 

 about 3 1 in. high, and of another that created a sensation in America, 

 I was informed by each of their owners that they were parted with 

 because they were too big for work in the Highlands and not one 

 exceeded 3iin. at the shoulder, and three of them were symmetrical, 

 and well made for big dogs. These three were (Old) Torunn, Bran 

 (ist prize, Crystal Palace, 1872), and Sir Boriss. The remaining 

 one was never exhibited in England. It will be recollected, perhaps, 

 that McNeil's Buskar, the largest of the dogs which took part in 

 the deer course described in the Appendix to Scrope's ' Deer- 

 stalking,' was only 28in. in height. Those who wish to see the 

 original of Landseer's sketch will find it in the Bell Collection in 

 the National Gallery. The animal certainly looks rather light in 

 substance, but it is fair to call to mind that McNeil, referring to it, 

 stated that the portrait scarcely gave a correct idea of the muscle 

 and bone of the original ; and this must have been so, as the dog 

 girthed 32in., or 4in. more than its height, and few Deerhounds 

 exceed, or attain to, this proportionate depth of chest. McNeil's 

 dogs, as is well known, were used for coursing the deer in the 

 Island of Jura, and from the very fact of the place being an island, 

 the practice was not subject to the disadvantages which it would 

 have been on the mainland, by driving the deer far away. Now, 

 if McNeil's dogs, which did not exceed 28in. in height, were equal 

 to the task of coursing and pulling down a cold (i.e. unwounded) 

 stag, it seems reasonable to infer that a larger dog could hardly be 

 necessary for deerstalking where it was only, or chiefly, used for the 

 purpose of retrieving the wounded deer. 



From the above remarks and authorities it will be gathered that 

 very large dogs are of little use in deerstalking. It must not, 

 however, be supposed that I would necessarily confine the show 

 Deerhound within the same limits. Everyone likes a fine, upstand- 

 ing dog, and a little extra height may, perhaps, be tolerated in a 

 show dog ; but what is deprecated is the awarding of a prize to a 

 dog simply and solely because he is large, coarse, and bulky in 

 fact, for the very and only reason that he possesses those qualities 

 which would entirely unfit him for the purpose which his names 

 implies. Personally, I think dogs of 3oin. tall enough for anything ; 

 and that, instead of trying to raise them beyond this, the efforts of 

 breeders would be more usefully directed to improving their quality, 

 and obtaining the requisite combination of strength and speed. 



