CHAPTER XVIII 



THE DEERHOUND 



AMONGST the dogs that hunt by sight, the Scottish 

 Deerhound deservedly holds a high place. More 

 powerfully built than the Greyhound, he has at the 

 same time a kindlier expression, and his rough coat 

 only adds to his distinctiveness. Holinshed tells of 

 a shrewd bickering which ensued between some Picts 

 and Scots over one of these dogs, " so that of the 

 Scots there died three score gentlemen besides a 

 great number of commons, not one of them under- 

 standing what the matter meant. Of Picts there 

 were about 100 slain." Sir Walter Scott, in "The 

 Talisman," gives a graphic description of one : "A 

 most perfect creature of heaven ; of the old northern 

 breed deep in the chest, strong in the stern, black 

 colour and brindled on the breast and legs, not 

 spotted with white, but just shaded into grey- 

 strength to pull down a bull, swiftness to cote an 

 antelope." The perfection of the modern rifle has 

 practically put an end to the use of the Deerhound 

 in the Scottish Highlands, but it can well be believed 

 that no dog would be more suitable for chasing 

 the deer, and his scenting powers were also so good 

 that he would track down a wounded animal with 

 great skill. It is somewhat surprising that at the 



