268 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



To these vague accounts, however, little weight can be 

 attached, and the only real criterion by which we can 

 form a notion of the perfection to which this breed for- 

 merly attained, is from the small remnant that we now 

 possess. 



In Ireland at the present day (we speak from the most 

 accurate information) not a vestige of this breed is to be 

 met with. 



To England the same remarks may be applied. In Wales 

 some of this breed may still exist, although no evidence of 

 the fact has reached us. In Scotland (from a perfect know- 

 ledge of every specimen of the breed) we know that very 

 few perhaps, not above a' dozen pure deer-hounds are to 

 be met with. 



It is difficult, without a great variety of measurements, 

 to determine the exact size of a dog, or to give an accurate 

 idea of its proportions ; though a good general idea may 

 be formed, by giving the height at the shoulder, as measured 

 with a slide, the girth round the chest, and the weight of 

 the dog, together with a few descriptive remarks regarding 

 him. 



Applying, therefore, the above rules to such of this race 

 as we have seen, and allowing for the degeneracy which 

 must have taken place in this breed throughout the country 

 (arising from diminution in number, neglect in crossing, 

 selection, and feeding), these dogs may probably have, at a 

 remoter period, averaged in height thirty inches, in girth 

 thirty-four inches, and in weight 1QO Ibs. 



Notwithstanding the degeneracy above alluded to, none 

 of the canine race present at this day such a combination 

 of qualities as the Highland deerhound, speed, strength, 

 size, endurance, courage, perseverance, sagacity, docility, 

 elegance, and dignity ; all these qualities are possessed by 

 this dog in a very high degree, and all of them (with the 

 exception of the two latter) are called eminently into 

 exertion in pursuit of the game, for which he is so well 

 calculated. Every attempt to improve this race by a cross 

 with any other species has utterly failed. Such has been 

 the result of the attempts made with the bull-dog, the 

 blood-hound, and the Pyrenean wolf-dog ; by the cross 

 with the bull-dog courage was gained, but speed, strength, 



