188 THE TALBOT HOUND. 



France, the Norman limers were considered the 

 best ; they were usually grey-brown, but there were 

 some quite black, with a tan-coloured spot over the 

 eyes, and white breasts. This species is silent while 

 following the scent, and thence easily distinguished 

 from other hounds. 



The Talbot was a race of hounds with a large 

 head, very broad nose, long pendulous ears, a rough 

 coat of hair on the belly, and entirely of a pure 

 white colour. In ancient illuminations it is repre- 

 sented as not very large, though, from all accounts, 

 it attained considerable stature, and seemingly was 

 kept more for show than for use. There is little 

 doubt but that the white St. Hubert breed of hounds 

 was of the same, or of a nearly allied race. As a 

 sporting-dog it is not much noticed, probably be- 

 cause in that capacity it was viewed as a blood- 

 hound. We believe the Talbot was a cognizance of 

 the ancient house of Shrewsbury; and a head 

 of one forms the crest of several princely families 

 of Germany. 



The Old Southern Hound. The Manchester- 

 hound is considered by Mr. Whitaker as an old 

 indigenous breed; but it is probably only a race 

 introduced during the feudal ages, and formed out 

 of the great watch-dog by the blood-hound or the 

 Talbot. It is a large noble-looking dog, greatly 

 resembling the more recent stag-hound, steady and 

 persevering, but slow in pursuit, thence neglected, 

 and now nearly extinct, being replaced by the fol- 

 lowing more active breeds, all of which, neverthe- 



