DOGS. 93 



intelligent, and make excellent watch-dogs. A story 

 is related of a nobleman, who, to make trial whether a 

 young hound was well instructed, desired one of his 

 servants to walk to a town four miles off, and then to a 

 market town three miles from thence. The dog, with- 

 out seeing the man he was to pursue, followed him by 

 the scent to the above-mentioned places, notwithstand- 

 ing the multitude of market-people that went along the 

 same road, and of travellers that had occasion to come ; 

 and when the bloodhound came to the market town, he 

 passed through the streets without taking notice of any 

 of the people there, and ceased not till he had gone to 

 the house where the man he sought rested himself, and 

 where he found him in an upper room, to the wonder 

 of those who had accompanied him in this pursuit.' l 



The stately Staghound, with his steady, cautious 

 qualities, is little less valuable than the bloodhound 

 for following a scent. Marvellous feats are related of 

 his perseverance and strength in pursuit of his game ; 

 but since the reign of George the Third the breed has 

 not been kept up. That monarch was particularly 

 fond of this description of hunting ; but now, having 

 fallen into disuse, it is not likely to be revived. Stag- 

 hounds are somewhat smaller than the bloodhound; 

 rougher, with a wider nose, shorter head, loose hang- 

 ing ears, and a rush tail, nearly erect. A most re- 

 markable stag hunt is recorded as having taken place 

 in Westmoreland, which extended into Scotland. All 

 the dogs were thrown out except two, who followed 

 their quarry the whole way. The stag returned to the 

 park whence it started, where it leapt over the wall 

 and expired, having made a circuit of at least 120 

 1 Boyle. 



