The Deerhound 165 



whilst many Foxhounds are used for the same pur- 

 pose and consequently are also referred to as Stag- 

 hounds. Concerning the origin of the Scottish 

 Deerhound there is very httle rehable information 

 for one's guidance, nevertheless there is good grounds 

 for believing that the breed is an ancient one, as 

 shown b}/ some of the older records of Scottish sport. 



The reason why the Irish Wolfhound should be 

 regarded as the progenitor of the Deerhound is a 

 dictum no more tenable than the converse, excluding 

 of course the supposed greater antiquity of the 

 former. 



Certain breeders of Deerhounds have adopted the 

 plan of an out-cross such as the Russian Wolfliound, 

 the Irish Wolfhound, also the Greyhound, with, 

 in some instances, satisfactory results. But this 

 variety of hound is not one that has suffered much 

 through prolonged inter-breeding, and it is very 

 questionable whether any permanent good follows 

 the introduction of an alien cross. 



Deerhounds vary in their colour; brindle either 

 light or dark, reddish yellow or reddish fawn and 

 dark blue with a shade of grey are the usual colours. 

 Some Deerhounds have black points confined to the 

 ears and muzzle, w^hereas others have white about 

 the head or neck, chest or toes; but the presence of 

 white in any of these situations is distinctly objection- 

 able, although a few white hairs at the end of a tail 



