THE BLOODHOUND. 



81 



count of its peculiar facility for tracking a wounded animal through 

 all the mazes of its devious course, is very scarce in England, as there 

 is now but little need of these Dogs. 



In the " good old times " this animal was largely used by thief-takers, 

 for the purpose of tracking and securing the robbers who in those days 

 made the country unsafe and laid the roads under a black-mail. Sheep- 

 stealers, who were much more common when the offence was visited with 

 capital punishment, were frequently detected by the delicate nose of the 

 Bloodhound, which would, when once laid on the scent, follow it up with 



The Bloodhound {(Janis familiaris) 



unerring precision, unravelling the single trail from among a hundred 

 crossiug footsteps, and only to be baffled by water or blood. 



The Bloodhound is generally irascible in temper, and therefore a 

 rather dangerous animal to be meddled with by any one excepting its 

 owner. So fierce is its desire for blood, and so utterly is it excited when 

 it reaches its prey, that it will often keep its master at bay when he ap- 

 proaches, and receive his overtures witli such unmistakable indications 

 of anger that he will not venture to approach until his Dog has satis- 

 fied its appetite on the carcase of the animal which it has brought to 

 the ground. When fairly on the track of the deer, the Bloodhound 

 utters a peculiar, long, loud, and deep bay, which, if once heard, will 

 never be forgotten. 



The color of a good Bloodhound ought to be nearly uniform, no 

 white being permitted, except on the tip of the tail. The prevailing 



