80 KEMINISCEXCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



one that was kept at Keeldar Castle ; he was like the 

 Spanish pointer, but much stronger, and untameably 

 fierce : colour, black and tawny, long pendulous ears, 

 had a deep back, broad nostrils, and was strongly 

 made, something like the old English mastiff, now so 

 rare." 



" An eye of sloe, with ear so low, 

 With horse's breast, with depth of chest, 

 With breadth of loin, and curve in groin. 

 And nape set far behind the head. 

 Such were the dogs that Fingal bred." 



It is generally supposed that few of the Irish and 

 Highland wolf dog are now to be found in Scotland ; but 

 those which still exist show a surprising combination of 

 speed, strength, and size, endurance, courage, sagacity, 

 docility, and, it may be added, dignity. 



The purest specimens of the deer-hound now to be 

 met with are supposed to be those belonging to Captain 

 M'Neill, of Colonsay ; two of them being called Buskar 

 and Bruin. And here let me give an extract from an 

 interesting and graphic account published by JMr. Scrope 

 of the performance of these dogs in the chase of a 

 stag. " Let us fancy a party assembled over night in a 

 Highland glen, consisting of sportsmen, deer-stalkers, a 

 piper, and two deer-hounds, cooking their supper, and 

 concluding with the never-failing accompaniment of 

 whisky toddy. Let us fancy them reposing on a couch 

 of dried fern leaves, and being awoke in the morning by 

 the air of ' Hey Johnny Cope.' While their breakfast 

 is preparing they wash and refresh themselves at a pure 

 mountain stream, and are soon ready to issue forth with 

 Buskar and Bruin. The party proceed up a rocky glen. 



