THE HOUND. 233 



speed, very considerable powers of scent, dauntless cour- 

 age, and often actual ferocity. They always run at the 

 head like the bull-dog, and one of them is a match for a 

 red-deer or a wolf, while a brace are said to be able to 

 pull down a bull, and would doubtless show their prowess 

 successfully against that noblest of the cervine family, 

 the great American elk, wapiti deer or we-waskish of the 

 plains. 



This splendid specimen of the dog is so nearly extinct 

 in its true form, and so nearly impossible of attainment 

 even in Scotland, that, being absolutely necessary in that 

 country for the pursuit of the wounded harts in the 

 boundless, open, heathclad deer-forests of the highland hills, 

 on which bloodhounds or foxhounds cannot be used, since 

 their baying would banish all the stags from the land, Art 

 has been called in aid of Nature, and by scientific and 

 judicious crossing an animal is obtained closely resembling 

 the original breed, his equal in size and power, and as well 

 adapted for the uses to which he is applied. This animal, 

 now, is for the most part known as the Highland deer- 

 hound. It is said that they are now so nearly established 

 as a distinct family, that they are reproduced like for like, 

 for generations. 



The usual cross is the Scotch wire-haired colly, the fox- 

 hound, and the greyhound. Sir Walter Scott's celebrated 

 and now classical dog " Maida," was the progeny of a 

 Pyrenean sheep-dog and a greyhound bitch ; and I have 

 no doubt that a cross of great excellence might be got 

 from the great Albanian or Epirotic mastiff, the canis 

 molossus of the ancients, and the greyhound ; and should 



