THE SCOTCH DEERHOUND 127 



kennels ; or to the indefatigable Mr. Hood Wright, who has laboured 

 so long for the breed whose cause he has chiefly espoused, and who, 

 moreover, has shown all those practical qualities that go to make a 

 successful fancier. Like the Bells, his name has been associated 

 with a host of good dogs, of which Selwood Morven, that afterwards 

 passed into the hands of Mr. Harry Rawson, Selwood Dhouran, 

 and Selwood Boy are but a trio that come readily to mind. Mr. 

 W. H. Singer, too, at one time owned and bred some noteworthy 

 specimens, of which Champion Swift was the best known. Of 

 other names writ large on the scroll of Deerhound fame, those of 

 the Duchess of Wellington, Mr. W. Evans, Mr. G. E. Crisp, Mr. 

 Morse Coulter, Mr. W. B. Gibbin, Mr. W. C. Grew, Major Davis, 

 Dr. and Miss Rattray may be named. Fig. 37 illustrates Champion 

 Selwood Dhouran, a dog that has had a most remarkable show-ring 

 career. He stands over 31 in. at shoulder, and is by Champion Swift 

 (30,617) out of Selwood Morag (37,981). 



Mr. Hickman has already referred to the good qualities of the 

 Deerhound as a companion, and he certainly does not at all colour 

 the picture. Of recent years the Kennel Press has received many 

 testimonials from ladies testifying to the full to the hounds' excellent 

 qualities. What has been said in respect of the Irish Wolfhound 

 as regards details of management, colour of puppies, etc., apply 

 equally to the Scotch hound, which only needs to be better known 

 to be more highly appreciated. 



The following excellent description of the Scotch Deerhound 

 was drawn up by Mr. Hickman and Mr. Hood Wright, and it 

 received the approval of the Scottish Deerhound Club in 1892 : 



Head. The head should be broadest at the ears, tapering slightly to the eyes, 

 with the muzzle tapering more decidedly to the nose. The muzzle should be 

 pointed, but the teeth and lips level. The head should be long, the skull flat, 

 rather than round, with a very slight rise over the eyes, but with nothing 

 approaching a stop. The skull should be coated with moderately long hair, 

 which is softer than the rest of the coat. The nose should be black (though 

 in some blue-fawns the colour is blue), and slightly aquiline. In the lighter- 

 coloured dogs a black muzzle is preferred. There should be a good moustache 

 of rather silky hair, and a fair beard. 



Ears. The ears should be set on high, and, in repose, folded back like 

 the Greyhound's, though raised above the head in excitement without losing the 

 fold, and even, in some cases, semi-erect. A prick ear is bad. A big thick 

 ear, hanging flat to the head, or heavily coated with long hair, is the worst 

 of faults. The ear should be soft, glossy, and like a mouse's coat to the touch, 

 and the smaller it is, the better. It should have no long coat or long fringe, but 

 there is often a silky, silvery coat on the body of the ear and the tip. Whatever 

 the general colour, the ears should be black or dark-coloured. 



Neck and Shoulders. The neck should be long that is, of the length that 

 befits the Greyhound character of the dog. An over-long neck is not necessary, 

 nor desirable, for the dog is not required to stoop to his work like a Greyhound, 

 and it must be remembered that the mane, which every good specimen should 

 have, detracts from the apparent length of neck. Moreover, a Deerhound 



