THE STAGHOUND. 



219 



prints of a crowd. Despite of the infusion of greyhound blood, the Staghound is hardly so 

 swift an animal as might be conjectured from its proportions, and probably on account of 

 its slow pace has fallen into comparative disrepute at the present day. Until the death of 

 George III. the stag-chase was greatly in vogue ; but since that time it has failed to attract the 

 attention of the sporting world, and has gradually yielded to the greater charms of the fox- 

 hunt. 



The real old English Staghound is now extremely rare, and is in danger of becoming 

 entirely extinct. The Dog which is now used for the purpose of chasing the stag is simply 

 a very large breed of the foxhound, which, on account of its superior length of limb, is more 



8TAGHO0ND. CVi* familiarii tagcx acce&yrius. 



capable of matching itself against the swift-footed deer than the ordinary hound. These Dogs 

 are very powerful when in a good state of health, and have been known to achieve very wonder- 

 ful feats of speed and endurance. They have been known to run for a distance of fifty miles in 

 pursuit of a stag ; and one memorable run is recorded, where the stag and the only two hounds 

 which kept to its trail, were found dead close to each other. The stag had made one powerful 

 effort, had leaped over a park wall, which the Dogs in their wearied state were unable to 

 surmount, and had fallen dead just as it had gained a place of safety. 



It is needful that the Staghound should be a courageoiis as well as a powerful animal ; for 

 when the stag is brought to bay it becomes a formidable antagonist, dashing boldly at the 

 nearest foe, whether man or Dog, and often inflicting by the stroke of its sharp antlers a 

 mortal wound upon any Dog that may be within its reach. Some degree of cunning is also 

 requisite, so that the Dog may not rush blindly upon its fate, but may craftily watch its 

 opportunity, and seize its quarry without suffering for its boldness. 



When the country was more open, and less broken up into fields and enclosures than is the 

 case at the present, stag-hunting was a comparatively easy task, but in the present day, when a 



