CHAPTER X 



THE BLOODHOUND 



ALTHOUGH the Bloodhound has been much in promi- 

 nence of recent years, it is still difficult to divest 

 the popular fancy of the impression formed by a 

 perusal of " Uncle Tom's Cabin." In reality, of 

 most docile and affectionate temperament, he is yet 

 regarded as cruel and bloodthirsty, his name perhaps 

 being partly responsible for this misconception. As 

 a matter of fact, the dogs used for hunting the 

 slaves were mongrels, in no way akin to the noble 

 hound which many people believe to be the founda- 

 tion stock of all present -day hounds that hunt by 

 scent. Some authorities even contend that he derives 

 his name from the fact that he is thoroughbred, 

 just as we speak of a racer as a blood horse. Person- 

 ally I am inclined to differ from this view, as 

 Turbervile speaks of several varieties of hounds as 

 " making good bloodhounds,"- which rather suggests 

 from the context of his remarks that he considers 

 them suitable for tracking a wounded animal. It 

 is not very material, however, and I do not propose 

 writing a disquisition on the antiquity of the breed, 

 beyond saying that there is strong evidence for the 

 belief that it is lineally descended from the black 



55 



