THE TURNSPIT, 123 



This animal, says Mr. Pennant, takes his prey by 

 mere subtlety, depending neither on the sagacity 

 of its nose, nor its swiftness of foot. If it comes 

 into a warren, it does not either bark or run on 

 the Rabbets; but, by a seeming neglect of them, 

 or attention to something else, deceives the object, 

 till it comes within reach, so as to be taken by a 

 sudden spring*. 



THE TURNSPIT f. 



THE Turnspits are remarkable for their great 

 length of body, and short, and usually crooked 

 legs. Their colour is generally a dusky grey, 

 spotted with black; or entirely black, with the 

 under parts whitish. 



These Dogs were formerly employed to run in a 

 wheel, for the purpose of turning meat that was 

 roasting before the fire. Till the present im- 

 proved modes of performing this business took 

 place, the breed of Turnspits was in considerable 



* Penn. Brit. Zool. i. p. 66. 



f Conis familiaru vertagus. Linn&us. Le Basset. Biiffbn. 

 See the Synopsis, p. 21, No. p, VAR, 14. 



request. 



