2 20 Modern Dogs. 



In general form the deerhound should be like a 

 greyhound : ears similar, loins likewise, legs and feet 

 equally good. In his character he differs from the 

 smooth hound considerably, as he does in coat, which 

 is hard, crisp, and close, not too long, whilst silkiness 

 on the top knot, and elsewhere, is not desirable. In 

 galloping or running he carries his head higher than 

 a greyhound, nor does he lay himself down so closely 

 to. his work ; he appears, indeed, to be on the look 

 out for contingencies, and does not, as a rule, go at 

 his greatest pace, unless actually required to do so. 

 He hangs back, as it were — maybe to avoid a 

 stroke from the stag, or to look out for the proper 

 place to seize. One hound will seize one part, one 

 another. '' Bran's point of attack was always at the 

 shoulder or fore leg, whilst Oscar had a habit of 

 biting at the hind leg, above the hock, frequently 

 cutting through the flesh and tendons in an extra- 

 ordinary manner, and tumbling over the deer 

 very quickly," says St. John in his '' Highland 

 Sports." 



His endurance is great, his scent keen, and 

 Ronaldson Macdonnel, of Glengarry, instances one 

 hound which, held in a leash, followed the track of 

 a wounded stag, in unfavourable rainy weather, for 

 three successive days ; then the quarry was killed. 

 The story goes, that this stag was wounded within 



