128 Modern Dogs. 



may be attributed the fact that " coursing deer" 

 is not followed so much as in his time. There 

 are still some forests in which a deerhound may be 

 taken out to assist at the termination of a stalk ; but 

 as the red deer is now mostly killed in " drives," a 

 sort of battue in which the shooter can sit at ease 

 until the deer come by, to be shot in a somewhat 

 ignominious manner, the deerhound as such is little 

 used. A stalker will find one useful at times, but 

 even he is supplied with such a perfect rifle, so 

 admirably sighted, and he is such a crack shot, that 

 the stag seldom requires more than the hard bullet 

 to kill him almost dead upon the spot. 



About three years ago, the Earl of Tankerville, in 

 a series of articles he wrote for the Field, made 

 allusion to the deerhound. He said some that he 

 saw " were beautiful, swift, and powerful. Some are 

 able to pull down a stag single handed, but the 

 bravest always gets killed in the end. The pure 

 breed have keen noses as well as speed, and will 

 follow the slot of a wounded deer perseveringly if 

 they find blood. The most valued are not neces- 

 sarily the most savage, for the latter (the reckless 

 ones) go in and get killed, whilst the more wary, who 

 have taken the hint after a pug or two, are equally 

 enduring, and will hold their bay for any indefinite 

 time, which is a merit of the first importance." 



