The Deerhound. 203 



present to " divers princes and other nobies." So 

 the Irish dog was even then becoming extinct, but 

 the Scottish one survives to the present day, and is 

 now more popular and numerous than at any previous 

 period of his existence. Still, judging from what 

 Pennant, writing in 1769, says, the deerhound must, 

 about his time, have been rare in certain districts, for 

 he says, " he saw at Gordon Castle a true Highland 

 greyhound, which has become very scarce. It was 

 of large size, strong, deep chested, and covered with 

 very long and rough hair. This kind was in great 

 vogue in former days, and used in vast numbers at 

 the magnificent stag chases by powerful chieftains. '* 

 Even the Kings of Scotland were wont to command 

 those of their subjects who had good hounds to bring 

 them together in order that they should have a 

 suitable hunt, and their commands were freely 

 responded to by the presence of the Earls of Argyle, 

 Huntly, Athol, and others. 



Towards the close of the past century and early in 

 the present one the deerhound was by no means so 

 uncommon in various parts of Scotland as some 

 have inferred. A good many were scattered up and 

 down in various holdings, especially in the western 

 portions of the Highlands, extending to the Hebrides. 

 The smaller farmers kept one or two, and so did 

 many of the shepherds, who were never loth to 



