ROUGH SCOTCH GREYHOUND AND DEERHOUND. 21 



in public estimation, for coursing "purposes, by the English grey- 

 hound, or by a cross between the two. The rough greyhound is 

 identical in shape and make with the pure deerhound, and the two 

 can only be distinguished by their style of running when at work 

 or play ; the deerhound, though depending on his nose, keeping his 

 head much higher than the greyhound, because he uses this attitude 

 in waiting to pull down his game. By some people it is supjiosed 

 that the smooth variety of the greyhound is as old as the rough ; 

 but, on carefully examining the description given by Arrian, no 

 one can doubt that the dog of his day was rough in his coat, and 

 in all respects like the present Scotch dog. In shape the Scotch 

 greyhound resembles the ordinary smooth variety, but he is rather 

 more lathy, and has not quite the same muscular development of 

 loin and thigh, though, the bony frame being more fully developed, 

 this is perhaps more apparent than real. 



In spite of the external form being the same in the rough Scotch 

 greyhound used for coursing hares, and the deerhound, there can 

 be no doubt that the two breeds, from having been kept to their 

 own game exclusively, are specially adapted to its pursuit by in- 

 ternal organisation, and the one cannot be substituted for the 

 other with advantage. Generally speaking, the deerhound is of 

 larger size than the greyhound, some being 28 inches high, 

 though this size is not very uncommon in the greyhound, and 

 dogs of 26^ or 27 inches are often seen. Mr. Scrope, the talented 

 author of " Deer-stalking," gives the following description of 

 Buskar, a celebrated deerhound belonging to Captain McNeill 

 of Colonsay, viz. : height, 28 inches ; girth round the chest, 32 



