56 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



dogs are not allowed at any of the cottages round. 

 I have never kept a dog at any time of my life, 

 because my pets have hardly been of the kind that 

 you could expect dogs to live with in perfect peace ; 

 but I am well acquainted with the animals, and 

 know a good dog when I see one, especially when 

 it is at work. The term " lurcher " I know is a 

 name of reproach, and yet the best so-called lurchers 

 I have known have been well-bred beautiful crea- 

 tures. The fault does not lie in the animal, but in 

 the use the creature is put to. The wonderful in- 

 telligence, speed, and strength combined, and its 

 silence above all, fits the creature pre-eminently for 

 the purpose for which it is used. I have known 

 some famous lurchers in whom the best greyhound 

 blood in England ran freely; and I venture to state 

 that if any man who knew what he was about was 

 compelled to live in some isolated place where he 

 had to provide himself with food, and he had only 

 the use of his hands and a dog to get it, he would, 

 without one moment's hesitation, prefer that dog 

 to be a lurcher. I have seen some beauties in my 

 time, perfect models of animal form, that had had 

 a first-class greyhound for father, and a very clever 



