26 Quadrupeds. 



Bloodhounds were formerly used in certain districts 

 lying between England and Scotland, which were much 

 infested by robbers and murderers; and a tax was laid 

 upon the inhabitants for keeping and maintaining a cer- 

 tain number of them. But as the arm of justice is now 

 extended over every part of the county, and there are 

 no secret recesses where villany may lie concealed, 

 these services are no longer necessary. In former times 

 these Dogs were used to hunt runaway negroes and 

 others in the Spanish West Indies, and many surprising 

 anecdotes are told of their wonderful sagacity and power 

 of scent. 



In Dallas's " History of the Maroons," an anecdote is 

 given of the extent of their accomplishments in this 

 way, which seems truly marvellous. A ship, attached 

 to a fleet under convoy to England, was manned chiefly 

 by Spanish sailors, who, as they passed Cuba, took the 

 opportunity of running the vessel on shore, when they 

 murdered the officers, and other Englishmen on board, 

 and carried off all the available plunder into the moun- 

 tains of the interior. The place was wild and unfre- 

 quented, and they fully expected to elude all pursuit. 

 The moment, however, the news reached Havanna, a 

 detachment of twelve chasseurs, with their Dogs, was 

 sent off. The result was, that in a few days the whole 

 of the murderers were brought in and executed, not a 

 man having been injured by the Dogs in the capture. 



The old English Hound, the original stock of this 

 island, and used by the ancient Britous in the chase, is 

 a most valuable Dog; though the breed has been gradu- 

 ally declining, and the size studiously diminished by a 

 mixture of other kinds, in order to increase their speed. 

 [t seems to have been accurately described by Shak- 

 speare in the following lines : 



" My hounds are bred out of the Spartan kind, 

 So flew'd, so sanded ; and their heads are hung 

 With ears that sweep away the morning dew ; 

 Crook-kneed and dew-lapped, like Thessalian bulls; 

 Slow in pursuit ; but match'd in mouth like bells 

 Each under each." 



