ORIGINAL SCOTCH GREYHOUND. 241 



the ponies with Gaelic admonitions, others holding the 

 rough lurcher in the leash, and tugging him back rudely as 

 he tried to get a lick of the blood-stained deer. Thus they 

 passed merrily through the storm-beaten forest, winding 

 over the bridges, the dark torrent of the Banavie brawling 

 and toiling below them. 



May they enjoy the right good cheer and merry dance 

 that always awaited them at the castle ! 



Eight harts slain at the wood, and two at Cairn Cherie. 

 By the rood, it was a sufficient work ; though the sport had 

 occasionally been much more ample.* 



CHAPTEK X. 



Original Scotch Greyhound. Fingal and his Retinue. Bran and Phorp. Their Death.-- 

 The Lurcher Glengarry's Dogs. Of Blooding Deer-hounds. Four-footed Hannibal. 

 Sir William St. Glair's Dogs. 



" Syr, yf you be on huntynge found, 

 I shall you gyve a good greyhounde, 



That is dunne as a doo ; 

 For as I am a trewe gentylwoman, 

 There never was deer that he at ran, 

 That myght yscape him fro'." 



SIR EGLAMORE. Metrical Romance. 



THE best sort of dog for chasing the deer would unquestion- 

 ably be the original Scotch or Irish greyhound ; but of this 

 noble animal I shall myself say nothing, being enabled, 

 through the kindness of Mr. Macneill of Colonsay, to 

 introduce amongst these pages a dissertation on their race 

 and qualities, put together by him with great research and 

 ability, and accompanied by a recital of a day's deer coursing 

 in the island of Jura. All accounts I have received from 

 Scotland represent these dogs as very scarce at the present 

 day ; and I am informed that in Sutherland the last of the 

 race in that particular district was a very powerful animal 



* It may appear, perhaps, that in the account of this day's drive and the 

 former one, the lion's share of the sport is given to the stalker. It must 

 be remembered, however, that those who go round with the drivers have 

 necessarily the greatest number of chances. Hence Tortoise's success. 



