THE BLOOD HOUND. 115 



Blood-hounds formerly of great utility. 



THE BLOOD HOUND. 



THIS animal was formerly held in great re- 

 pute; and, on account of the peculiar fineness of 

 his scent, he was frequently employed in reco- 

 vering wounded game that had escaped from the 

 hunter. He would follow, with great certainty, 

 the footsteps of a man to a considerable distance; 

 and, in barbarous and uncivilised times, when a 

 thief or murderer had fled, this useful quadruped 

 would trace him through the thickest and most 

 secret coverts; nor would he cease his pursuit 

 till he had taken the felon. For this reason 

 there was a law in Scotland, that whoever denied 

 entrance to one of these dogs in pursuit of stolen 

 goods, should be deemed an accessary. The 

 blood-hound is very tall, elegantly formed, and 

 superior to every other variety of the canine ge- 

 nus, in activity, speed, and sagacity. 



Blood-hounds were formerly used in certain 

 districts lying between England and Scotland, 

 which were much infested by robbers and mur- 

 derers: and a tax was laid on the inhabitants, for 

 keeping and maintaining a certain number of 

 these animals. -But as the arm of justice is now 

 extended over every part of the country, and 

 there are no secret recesses where villainy can 

 lie concealed, their services are happily become 

 unnecessary. 



Some few dogs of this kind are still kept in 



