CH. X. BREED OF DEER-HOUNDS. 157 



qualities. The three finest dogs of the kind that I 

 ever saw were at Foyers, on Loch Ness ; and I be- 

 lieve that they were equally admired by a gentleman 

 far more fit to judge of them than I am, Mr. Grant 

 of Glenmorriston, who was kind enough to take me 

 to see them. The two young dogs were undoubt- 

 edly among the finest of their race, for with the 

 strength of a lion they were made as much for 

 speed, and as compactly put together, as the highest- 

 bred greyhound at Newmarket. They had all the 

 points and qualifications of a thorough-bred grey- 

 hound, from their head to their round cat-like feet. 

 Indeed I suppose that, owing to neither trouble nor 

 expense having been for some time past spared 

 by many English sportsmen in improving this breed 

 of dogs, the deer-hound is now to be found in as 

 great perfection as ever it was. 



Like other greyhounds these dogs do not con- 

 tinue fit for service for more than six years. The 

 violent pace and the strains they are liable to from 

 the nature of the ground they run on, and the 

 strength of the animal they pursue, all combine to 

 make them show symptoms of old age at an earlier 

 time of life than most other hunting dogs. In 

 rearing these dogs it is absolutely necessary that 

 they should have nearly constant liberty, without 

 which they neither come to their full strength nor 



